Gold Coast surf lifesavers say they’ve seen record numbers of drownings as swimmers still ignore safety messages

Gold Coast Surf Life Savers say they’ve seen a record number of drownings and near-drownings across the state and they’re not sure why the message still isn’t getting through.

IT’S a simple message — ‘swim between the flags’ — yet Gold Coast Surf Life Savers say it is still not getting through.

Following a near drowning event at Miami Beach yesterday morning, Gold Coast Surf Life Saving duty officer Ken Lloyd said the number of rescues on Queensland beaches this year had been “exceptional”.

“We’ve had a lot of near drownings, and drownings, state wide,” Mr Lloyd said.

“This year we seem to have a lot of out of patrolled area swimming. We’re not sure why.

“We pull a lot of people from the water, thousands of rescues are done on the Gold Coast (every year).”

A 69-year-old man was pulled from the water unconscious by a member of the public about 5.45am yesterday.

Off-duty lifesavers preparing to set up patrol for the day were alerted to the incident and sprang into action, performing CPR for 20 minutes before the man regained consciousness. He was transported to hospital in a critical condition.

THREE RESCUES IN 12 MINUTES AT GOLD COAST BEACH

Lifesavers were kept busy yesterday with a near drowning at Miami Beach (pictured above) and a shark sighting at North Burleigh Beach. Photo: Akiko Howell.

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Mr Lloyd said the water was calm at the time so it was unclear what caused the man to nearly drown.

“It was just a beautiful Gold Coast morning,” he said.

“The off-duty lifesavers were being super vigilant, reacted very quickly, grabbed all the oxygen equipment and defibrillators we have in the Surf Club.

“They all worked super well as a team. Everyone knew their role and got the gentleman back to life.”

Lifesavers say they want the message out there. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Mr Lloyd said it was fortunate help was nearby but the message remains.

“Always swim between the flags,” Mr Lloyd said.

“If there’s no flags, don’t go swimming. I know it’s always hot but swim in a group, stay close to shore, just have a survival plan.”

Meanwhile, a shark sighting closed a popular beach only a few hundred metres away yesterday morning.

Lifeguards closed North Burleigh Beach at 9.30am after a 1.5m shark was spotted in the water.

Surf Life Savers employed the assistance of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter to monitor the shark as it swam back out to sea. The beach reopened at 10.30am.