Reckless swimmers ignored beach closures are putting lives at risk, authorities warn

Queensland surf lifesavers have performed close to 500 preventive actions as reckless swimmers ignore beach closures and venture into treacherous surf, putting their own lives and the lives of their rescuers at risk.

Reckless swimmers ignoring beach closures to venture into treacherous surf are putting their own lives and the lives of their rescuers at risk, authorities say.

Queensland surf lifesavers said they had performed about 500 preventive actions by about lunchtime on Monday, mainly stopping foolhardy beachgoers from entering the water.

“With the tidal surge, you can be walking along in ankle deep water and before you know it it’s waist or even chest deep,” he said.

Burleigh Beach swimmers are advised to leave the water by Lifeguards Pics Adam Head

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Commissioner Katarina Carroll, the Queensland Ambulance Service and surf lifesavers have all pleaded with beachgoers to stay out of the water.

“We’ve had to deal with quite a number of people disobeying the beach closures on both the Gold and Sunshine coasts,” Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Brenden Scoffell said.

“We’re still seeing people going into the water, despite how dangerous it is and clear signs that the beaches are closed.”

Mr Scoffell said there were 36 rescues on the Sunshine Coast and eight on the Gold Coast on Sunday.

They included surfers who had to be rescued after their jet skis broke down in pounding 4m waves and rolled.

Mr Scoffell said experienced surfers were using jet skis to tow onto waves at spots including Kirra and Currumbin Alley but warned it was only for the experienced.

“Just because you’ve got a jet ski doesn’t mean you should be out there in these conditions if you don’t know what you’re doing,” he said.

“Leave it to the professional surfers.”

Observation at Currumbin Beach this morning. pic.twitter.com/vVNwphw5hL

— Matt Webber (@MattWebberWrite) January 2, 2022

Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll said she had seen countless people ignoring directions from surf lifesavers while spending a few days on the Gold Coast.

She said the severe weather system from ex-tropical cyclone Seth would continue to cause abnormally high tides and powerful surf.

“I spent a couple of days down the Gold Coast … and the beaches were all closed and still the amount of people in the water was extraordinary – with surf lifesavers constantly driving up and down the beaches to tell people to get out,” she said.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth has whipped up some good waves but hazardous surf on the Sunshine Coast. Board riders and surfers made the most of it at Mooloolaba on Sunday. Photo: Mark Furler

“And immediately, the second they drove past, people were back in the water.

“We’ve already had the death of a father yesterday on the Sunshine Coast, a 49-year-old man trying to save his son.

“So can I please ask that you listen to authorities, when they say the beaches are shut, they are shut.

“They’re not only putting themselves in danger, and as I said, there’s already been a death, there are other emergency services as well as our surf life savers (being put at risk).”

The man drowned after jumping into the water at Wappa Falls in Kiamba after his son fell in. The boy was pulled from the water but the man’s body was found by police divers several hours later.

Ms Palaszczuk used the morning Covid briefing to warn Queenslanders not to put lives at risk by entering the surf.

“Now is the time not to go in the surf,” she said.

“Beaches are closed and please do not put your life at risk or the lives of lifesavers having to go out and get you out of the water.

“These are dangerous conditions, these are hazardous conditions. Please do not enter the waterways – and especially the beaches that have been closed.

“They are closed for a reason. So please think long and hard before breaching any of those guidelines.”

There had only been four rescues during the morning, Surf Life Saving Queensland Gold Coast duty officer Brent Imrie said.

“I’ve been telling all my patrols, ‘you’ve got to stop even one person going in because as soon as they do, their mates will follow and you’re asking for trouble’,” Mr Imrie said.

He said a jet ski that overturned while surfers were towing in on the southern Gold Coast on Sunday and was tied to shark nets to secure it broke free and washed up at Kirra on Monday morning.

Mr Imrie said with another king tide on Tuesday morning, beachgoers needed to take extreme care even just walking on the sand on the incoming tide.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior paramedic Emma Waghorn said ambulances responded to “quite a number” of calls for help from lifesavers who had pulled people out of the water.

“We received calls to various beaches in southeast Queensland for reports of people injured in the water or requiring assistance, struggling in the water,” she said.

“We would recommend anyone visiting the beach today should follow the advice of the experts, the surf lifesavers.”