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Gold Coast Lifesavers warn beware of blue bottles and rips

SURF Lifesavers have had a busy Australia Day across the Gold Coast with multiple rescues and blue bottle stings.

Blue bottles wash in on Southport beach.
Blue bottles wash in on Southport beach.

SURF Lifesavers have had a busy Australia Day with four rescues across the Gold Coast and up to 30 blue bottle stings.

While Gold Coaster’s are firing up their BBQ’s and hitting the beach to celebrate the public holiday, life savers are warning swimmers to beware of the stingers and rips.

At Southport, two teenage boys were rescued after swimming outside the flags.

In a similar case at Nobby’s Beach surf lifesavers rescued a 27-year-old female, who was also swimming outside the flags.

Blue bottles wash up across Gold Coast beaches.
Blue bottles wash up across Gold Coast beaches.

Surf Lifesaving officer Scott Burgess said blue bottle stings have been the most popular cases on the Gold Coast today.

“The conditions are pretty good in the water so we haven’t had a large amount of swimmers struggling,” he said.

“The problem is that because the water is stable they think they will be all right to swim outside the flags but that’s when the trouble starts.

Surf lifesavers warn to watch out for the stingers!
Surf lifesavers warn to watch out for the stingers!

“We’ve had a few people swimming outside the flags but the majority of our help today has been for blue bottle stings, we’ve had a lot of first aid for that. Just keep an eye out when you’re in the water.”

Mr Burgess said the blue bottle stings have been sporadic throughout the day.

Meanwhile, at Broadbeach a 59-year-old female was rescued after Surf Lifesavers saw her struggling in the water.

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/lifestyle/beaches-and-fishing/gold-coast-lifesavers-warn-beware-of-blue-bottles-and-rips/news-story/978e0074dc47bce8ffbc96552f4e935d