Avalon life saver paralysed in ‘freak’ surf accident backs council’s beach safety campaign
A seasoned life saver, now in a wheelchair after a “freak” surf accident, is warning beachgoers as part of a Sydney council’s new summer beach safety campaign. Here’s what you need to know.
Manly
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A man who suffered a life-changing injury in a “freak” surf accident has become one of the faces of Northern Beaches Council’s summer beach safety campaign.
Mark Head, a volunteer life saving trainer at Avalon Surf Life Saving Club was hit in the head by a rescue board while exercising at the beach in September last year.
Mr Head, 58, who was found after eight minutes underwater and received close to 90 minutes of CPR before he was revived, was left paralysed by severe spinal cord injuries.
At the campaign launch at Freshwater Beach on Friday, designed to educate beachgoers about how to stay safe, Mr Head stressed the need for people, especially parents and children, to be aware of the potential dangers.
Last year six people drowned on the northern beaches — none of them on patrolled beaches.
About 10.8 million people visited the 24 beaches in the region with 1427 rescues made.
There were also 425,000 “preventative actions” by council lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers including directing people to swim between the flags; stay away from rips and for board riders to steer clear of the flags.
Mr Read, who was Avalon surf club’s chief board instructor with 39 years’ experience as a life saver, was on a rescue board at South Avalon when it caught the lip of the wave, flipped back and hit him in the forehead, breaking his neck.
“It was freak accident.”
He was on life support in hospital for several day before learning that he could not move his arms or legs.
Now Mr Head, who has had some movement return to his arms and feeling in his legs, is warning beachgoers to be careful as part to the council’s safety campaign.
“I’ve seen kids, who have never been to the beach in their lives, run straight into the surf, totally oblivious to the risks,” he said.
“Even on a day like today where the surf is pretty safe, it’s easy to get into trouble.”
Council’s Beach Safety Manager, Clinton Rose, said the campaign, launched to coincide with the first day of summer, has been created in an effort to have zero drownings on local beaches over the summer.
“We’ve got really good staff, we’ve got resources and we’re doing everything we can (but) we need the community to try and look after themselves.
“That’s why we are getting the education program out to everyone about how to handle themselves in a rip, make sure they swim between the flags, don’t swim alone and provide safety tips if they get into trouble.
Mr Rose released a harmless green dye into a rip current at northern end of Freshwater to demonstrate that rips end up petering out.
Surf Life Saving Sydney Northern Beaches boss Tracey Hare-Boyd said while the area had a proud history of no lives being lost between the red and yellow flags, drownings can occur on unpatrolled beaches and when life savers were not on duty.
“Even though it’s still 25 degrees at 7 or 8 o’clock at night, don’t go swimming.”
To find out more how to be beach safe this summer, click here.
THE TOP FOUR BEACH SAFETY TIPS:
Swim at a patrolled beach and between the flags
Read the safety signs for information about the beach and if you are unsure ask a lifesaver or lifeguard
Always swim with someone else so you can look out for each other
If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm
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