Plea for beach-goers to take care as lifesavers make four rescues on Boxing Day at Port Campbell Beach

With the build up to summer holidays and warmer weather rolling in, lifesavers in the southwest have sprung into action saving multiple people in just days.

A number of people have been rescued within an hour after getting dragged out by a strong current at a Port Campbell beach.

Four people required rescue assistance after they were drifted into the sea on Monday afternoon.

Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club president Scott McKenzie said many tourists were not familiar with the ocean in the small country town, which resulted in multiple rescues to bring them back to shore.

Mr McKenzie also said the water was rough on Boxing Day.

“The permanent population is not very big in Port Campbell but it does get quite busy over the summer period with tourists,” he said.

Mr McKenzie said no one needed to go to hospital.

He urged beach-goers to always swim between the flags and at patrolled beaches only.

Scott McKenzie said beaches can pose risks to our safety. Picture: Supplied

On Tuesday afternoon, paramedics were called to a water incident on Cairns St in Port Campbell just before 5.30pm.

A woman in her 30s was taken to the Warrnambool Public Hospital after being hit by waves and swallowing seawater.

Port Campbell surf lifesavers also responded to the incident, saying they spoke to the woman and her family shortly after the accident.

“The lady was able to walk and talk, but appeared to be distressed from what happened,” Mr McKenzie said.

Lifesavers placed an oxygen mask on the woman and emergency services were called.

Police arrived at the scene but Port Campbell Lifesaving Club had already dealt with the situation.

The woman is in a stable condition and remains in hospital for further monitoring and assessment.

Meanwhile, a helicopter from Melbourne landed in the middle of Port Campbell on a grassed area on Monday afternoon, a police spokesperson said.

The spokesperson said the helicopter did not have permission to land in that particular area.

Believing it was an emergency, Port Campbell officers soon found out it was a small group stopping in the coastal town for lunch.

A police spokesperson said Corangamite Shire Council would make a formal notification to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).