Lifesavers under pressure as hot summer sends thousands to beach

The number of rescues that surf lifesavers are performing has risen, with dozens pulled from the water each day.

Surf Lifesaving volunteers Mathew Harper and Jasmine Georgas at Maroubra Beach, Sydney. Picture: Sam Mooy.

Drownings off the nation’s coast have fallen this summer, but the number of rescues that surf lifesavers are performing has risen, prompting fresh warnings for ­beachgoers to take care.

There have been 14 drownings off the NSW coast this financial year, down from 17 at the same stage last year.

But surf lifesavers are being kept busy with rescues, in some areas pulling dozens of swimmers out of the water every day.

Surf Life Saving NSW chief Steven Pearce said more than 300 people had been plucked from the state’s coastal waters since ­December 1.

At Maroubra Beach, in Sydney’s east, surf lifesavers have been pulling up to 30 troubled swimmers from the surf a day, with the busy peak rescue period eclipsing that of previous years.

Australian Lifesaver of the Year Mathew Harper has been patrolling the popular Maroubra strip for 11 years, and said this summer was the worst he had seen. “The beaches are getting busier and busier,” the 25-year-old said.

Australian surf lifesaver of the year Mathew Harper on patrol at Maroubra Beach. Picture: Sam Mooy.

“In the first three hours (on Christmas Day) we would have done seven rescues at Maroubra.”

The fall in drownings so far this summer follows a huge spike in deaths last year. A total of 71 people drowned off the nation’s beaches in 2018-19, a 42 per cent increase on the 10-year average.

So far this summer in Queensland, about 3500 people have been rescued while swimming at beaches — an increase of about 200 on last year.

“It doesn’t matter how much experience you have in the ocean, if you’re not putting safety first, then you’re putting your life on the line — and potentially that of those who will be required to rescue you,” Mr Harper said.

There is heightened concern about drowning deaths across the nation as people flock to the beach, backyard pools and inland waterways during the Christmas- new year holiday period.

There will be little respite for lifesavers this week, with the ­Bureau of Meteorology forecasting a return to high winds and ­extreme heat.

Surf Life Saving Australia chief Adam Weir warned beachgoers to remember to stay safe when they visited the coast this summer.

“Last summer was one of our deadliest on record and we have already seen an increase in the numbers of people visiting the beaches,” Mr Weir said.

“With forecast heatwave conditions across key major cities and most of the country, we are anticipating the number of people visiting the beach to surge as people seek relief from the heat.”