Life Saving Victoria carry out highest number of beach rescues in 20 years

The number of people who had to be rescued at Victorian beaches was the highest in 20 years on Saturday because of the heatwave.

People enjoy the weather in Rye during an unexpected Victorian heatwave. Picture: Mark Stewart

Lifeguards across Victoria had one of their busiest days in two decades on Saturday as swimmers flocked to secluded, “instagrammable” spots amid soaring temperatures.

Crews carried out more than 145 rescues and were called to more than 60 medical incidents.

Sunday has already taken a dangerous turn after two children and a man in his 30s were seriously injured in a watercraft accident on the state’s border.

The trio were injured at Lake Mulwala near the Yarrawonga Holiday Park on Sunday morning when the tube they were on collided with a boat.

“About 11.30am emergency services were called to Mulwala, following reports of a boating incident,” a NSW Police spokeswoman said.

“On arrival, officers attached to Murray River Police Department were told that a ski boat towing a biscuit-style inflatable device came around a bend and the inflatable has collided with a stationary fishing boat.”

Crowds flock to Victorian beaches as the mercury climbs. Picture: Mark Stewart

A 10-year-old girl sustained injuries to her upper and lower body and was airlifted to the Royal Children’s Hospital while an 8-year-old boy suffered upper body injuries.

He was taken to Wangaratta Hospital, with both children in a serious but stable condition, an Ambulance Victoria spokesman said.

Meanwhile, a 36-year-old man sustained lower body injuries and was also in a serious but stable condition when he was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital.

The NSW Police spokeswoman said Victoria Police will conduct further enquiries with the skippers of both towing and fishing boats.

Lifeguards have grappled to keep up with the number of rescues. Picture: Mark Stewart

Life Saving Victoria State Agency Commander Kane Treloar said even though conditions in the water were not particularly dangerous at the weekend, Saturday recorded some of the highest rescue numbers performed in one day.

“Yesterday was an enormous day for Life Saving Victoria,” he said.

“In my 20 years plus with this organisation, I don’t remember a day where in Victoria, we performed that many rescues in a single day.

“We performed 145 rescues right across the state and when you consider that we performed a total of 849 for the entire season last season, we don’t remember a day where we’ve been that busy and so many Victorians have needed our help.”

It’s the first time in a decade the state has encountered two consecutive hot days above 37C on a weekend, with temperatures reaching up to 40.8C in the state’s northwest on Saturday while temperatures at Melbourne Airport are forecasted to reach 40C on Sunday.

Senior meteorologist at the Bureau of Meteorology Joanna Hewes said Melbourne reached 37.4C on Saturday, with the city’s outer suburbs reaching up to 39C in Viewbank and 38C in Scoresby.

Holidaymakers are seeking out more secluded and picturesque swimming locations. Picture: Diego Fedele

Melbourne’s northwest saw the warmest temperatures, reaching up to 40.8C in parts of the state.

“We’re looking at maximum temperatures in the low 30s in southwest Victoria, otherwise heading for the mid to high 30s across the state and reaching up to 40s again in the north,” she said.

“We’ll have some cool conditions on their way tomorrow.”

Mr Treloar said crews would remain on high alert on Sunday.

“We’re hoping to see that everyone makes good decisions today and we can make sure everyone goes home again today,” he said.

Emergency crews are on high alert as the high temperatures continue. Picture: Supplied

Among the calls for help on Saturday were two “mass rescues”, where nine people were pulled from a rip in Portsea, while lifeguards rescued another 10 swimmers in Jan Juc.

Meanwhile, two boys are recovering in hospital after their jet skis collided at Safety Beach.

Another young girl was also rescued there on Saturday.

A teenager was also pulled from the water in Brighton.

A 57-year-old Balwyn North man died after he was found unresponsive in the water at Gunnamatta Beach in Fingal about 10.15am on Saturday.

His death followed the drowning of a seven-year-old boy who went missing from his family’s campsite in Cobbannah in East Gippsland on Friday.

Lifeguards say no one ever expects to the the person that needs to be rescued. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Treloar said rips were still the biggest danger to swimmers, but emergency crews had noticed more holidaymakers were seeking out more secluded and picturesque swimming locations.

He said such spots could make it harder for lifeguards to locate people if there was an emergency.

“We’re finding a trend that people are wanting to go to more remote places to engage in swimming and spending time by the water,” Mr Treloar said.

“But the safest reality remains that the best place to swim is between the red and yellow flags.

“No one ever expects to be the person that needs to be rescued by our members.”

Extreme fire danger ratings

The combination of hot weather and windy conditions has prompted a Total Fire Ban in the Mallee, Wimmera, South West, Central and North Central districts with most of these areas also seeing extreme fire danger ratings.

State Response Controller Jason Heffernan said while firefighters were ready to respond to fires, Victorians needed to “play their part and not do things which could cause fires or unnecessary call-outs”.

State Control Centre spokeswoman Reegan Key added gusty winds would increase later in the day “making conditions tricky for firefighters”.

“If you’re heading home today from camping, be careful that your campfire is put out and make sure you’re using water, not soil. If it’s cool to touch, it’s safe to leave,” she said.

“In those areas of the total fireban…no fires are to be lit in the open air.”

The warning comes after firefighters already responded to nearly 50 unattended campfires this year.