Surf lifesavers pushed to the limit by children with poor swimming ability

SURF lifesavers are being forced to rescue hundreds of unsupervised children with “poor swimming ability’’ at Queensland beaches.

SURF lifesavers have been pushed to the limit rescuing hundreds of unsupervised children with “poor swimming ability’’ at Queensland beaches.

Alarming rescue statistics for the summer holiday period add further weight to warnings that school-aged children face a growing risk of drowning due to a decline in water skills.

The figures come as The Courier-Mail lobbies the State Government for a compulsory certified swimming program for primary students. Currently, lessons are only offered at some schools and are not comprehensive enough, according to experts.

From December 1 to January 15, Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) volunteers and paid lifeguards performed 954 rescues at Queensland beaches, new data reveals.

A total of 402 patients were aged 18 and under, including 216 males and 186 females. The average age was just over 11.

Tidal currents and rips were logged as the most common cause of rescues, but almost 60 cases involved children who lifesavers noted could not even cope in shallow, calm conditions between the flags.

Lifesavers Clive Newman and Wayne Weideman at Tallebudgera Creek. Picture: AAP/David Clark

Rescue hot spots included Tangalooma (Moreton Island) with 89 rescues, Tallebudgera Creek (31), Coolum (17), and Mooloolaba, Point Lookout and South Bank Lagoon (all 15).

More than 320 rescues occurred either outside of the flags or at unpatrolled locations.

Surf Life Saving Queensland chief operating officer George Hill said stats pointed to the growing number of children who were entering the water without the necessary skills to survive in it.

Mr Hill said adding to the concern was that the snapshot was over a period of relatively calm conditions.

He said while it was good to see many young beachgoers were between the flags where they could be seen and saved, parents should remember they needed to be vigilant when it came to “direct supervision’’.

“We are seeing more and more young people unable to cope in the water and in this state, which offers a year-round swimming environment. It’s imperative we give them the skills and knowledge to stay safe.’’

The most dramatic incident so far this summer involved nine teenagers who were lucky to survive after being swept to sea during a night-time swim at Currimundi on the Sunshine Coast.

Off-duty surf lifesavers gave them oxygen therapy and four boys were taken to hospital. The males were aged between 13 and 15 and had been swimming at 6.20pm when they were caught in a rip.