Jet ski lifeguards: The team helping keep beachgoers safe

Amid Victoria’s worst spate of drownings on record, a highly-skilled team of lifeguards aboard jet skis is going all out to keep beachgoers safe.

Jet ski-riding lifeguards have performed dozens of rescues this summer amid Victoria’s horror drowning spate.

The service — which has been expanded — launches from nine locations spanning Port Phillip Bay and the coast.

Its highly-skilled members conduct roving patrols and provide rapid response if there’s an emergency.

They’ve already conducted 48 rescues and provided support in dozens of critical incidents this season.

Jet ski lifeguards Hamish McKendrick and Simon Perry patrolling Mt Martha beach. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Hamish performs a training rescue with Sylvie Walker on Mt Martha beach. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Life Saving Victoria lifeguard operations manager Briana Newson said the jet skis were hugely valuable not only in dealing with emergencies but educating the public about where it was safe to swim.

They’re out in force over the long weekend.

“Two years ago we only had three sites so it’s grown very quickly,’’ Ms Newson said.

“They are very, very helpful.

“They just provide that additional support and additional coverage.

“Just having that presence makes the community feel a bit safer.

“And because they are a roving service they’re doing a lot of preventive actions.”

Ms Newson said it was always recommended to swim between the red and yellow flags.

But the jet skis provided an additional tool at unpatrolled locations, with lifeguards able to advise a safer swimming location.

The message was especially important with Victoria posting 42 drownings since July 1 last year — the deadliest spate on record.

The jet ski service has been expanded this season. Picture: Alex Coppel.

The service conducts roving patrols and backs up beach lifeguards and lifesavers. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“We’ve just come from a year like no other where everyone’s lives have been turned upside down and a lot of people have been stuck at home,’’ Ms Newson said.

“What we’re finding is a lot of people in the community aren’t recognising that their skill set in the water is probably not where it was 12 months ago.

“We have lots and lots of patrolled locations and we’re wanting the community to be planning ahead and making the right decisions and choosing to go to a beach where there are red and yellow flags,’’ Ms Newson said.

“These resources do provide the potential of patrolling beaches where we don’t have flags.

“But we’re still really wanting to encourage people who are choosing to go down to the beach for a swim to go to a patrolled location.”

The jet ski service, which comprises 18 vessels, will patrol seven days a week until the end of the month.

It operates from 12pm-8pm on Port Phillip Bay and 11am-7pm at coastal beaches.

Operation hours scale back in February to weekends and public holidays.