Sunshine Coast lifeguard urges swimmers to follow flag safety rules

A veteran lifeguard has spoken out about the emotional toll of drownings on rescuers as an interactive map shows danger zones, with Queensland beaches recording nearly 50 coastal deaths this year. SPECIAL REPORT

Lifeguard Trent Robinson at Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast.

With 30 years of lifeguarding experience, experienced lifeguard Trent Robinson knows the heartbreak of preventable loss, calling the recent Happy Valley drowning of a 60-year-old man the kind of tragedy that truly “hurts” lifeguards.

With temperatures rising and data from Surf Life Saving Australia’s 2024 National Coastal Safety Report raising fresh concerns, the Sunshine Coast’s chief lifeguard’s insights highlight the urgent need for public vigilance on Sunshine Coast beaches.

“I’ve experienced plenty of major incidents,” Mr Robinson said, reflecting on his time patrolling South East Queensland’s busiest beaches including the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.

“It’s never a good day when it’s a body retrieval or when you’re rescuing someone.”

Lifeguard Trent Robinson at Coolum Beach on the Sunshine Coast.

The report raised concerns after Queensland recorded 47 coastal deaths over the past year, nearly half from drowning.

Many incidents occurred on unpatrolled beaches and at river mouths where lifeguards may not be able to respond quickly.

“They will be away from any lifeguard or lifesaver assistance, and by the time we get called out to a search, unfortunately, a lot of the time that 20 minutes has gone past, and it’s too late,” Mr Robinson said.

Limited resources further complicate lifeguard responses, especially on beaches patrolled by only one or two lifeguards when they have to leave to rescue someone who wasn’t swimming between the flags.

“With the professional lifeguard service, we’re not fortunate to have 20 volunteers on patrol, it’s usually one or two people,” Mr Robinson said.

“Some of our beaches are still one-manned.

“(The lifeguard) will go to the scene and leave that beach unattended and hopefully it will be backed up by another beach.

“A lot of the times it does chew up our resources.”

Sunshine Coast’s most dangerous beaches revealed 

Lifeguard Trent Robinson.

Mr Robinson, a father of two, spoke of the toll incidents can take, especially when children are involved, though he noted that child drownings are thankfully “very rare”.

“The ones that really affect you are children,” he said.

“Becoming a parent has probably become the biggest change for me.

“Most of the time, I thought I was invincible ... but when you become a parent yourself, whether it’s a missing child at the beach or an incident with a child, that usually affects me quite a bit.”

The report’s findings also highlighted that men are at much higher risk, accounting for 86 per cent of Queensland’s beach-related drownings.

Mr Robinson said one of the most common mistakes beachgoers make is ignoring safety guidelines.

“A lot of the time, it’s not knowing their own ability, going out in rough surf, or even a nice spot that looks calm but is actually a rip,” he said.

The report also found that drowning incidents were 64 per cent above average during summer months, likely due to longer warm seasons, which continue to put pressure on Queensland’s 9072 volunteer lifesavers.

The volunteers spent more than 356,000 hours patrolling beaches and carried out almost 787,366 preventative actions last year.

Despite a 15 per cent drop in drowning deaths in Queensland, the Sunshine Coast remains high-risk, especially around the Noosa River, Maroochy River and Stumers Creek.

Mr Robinson shared a recent example of a preventable tragedy at Happy Valley, calling it a case of “one thing that really hurts us”.

“It was an elderly man, and all he had to do was walk 400 metres down to Kings Beach and swim between the flags, and he would have been fine,” he said.

“It’s going to those incidents where someone’s lost a loved one … just because they didn’t take that extra 20-minute walk down to the flags or didn’t wait until 7.30am when the flags are open.”

With extended patrol hours through summer, Mr Robinson and his fellow lifeguards hope that public adherence to safety guidelines will spare families from heartbreak this season.

Here are some recent drowning incidents and close calls in and around the Sunshine Coast since 2023:

Body of missing camper found near Teewah Beach

May 27, 2023

The body of a 21-year-old Sunshine Coast man was found a day after he was reported missing from his Teewah Beach campsite on May 27. Police and SES teams launched a search when he was last seen walking away from his campsite at night, but his body was later discovered near the Freshwater Rd 4WD track by a member of the public. Drowning is suspected as the cause of death.

Swimmers rescued at Alexandria Bay

October 11, 2023

Two Noosa-based surfer brothers, Kaiden and Landen Smales, along with Argentinian lifeguard Micaela Guacci, heroically rescued two nudist swimmers struggling in strong rips at Alexandria Bay.

Mr Guacci, a trained lifeguard on holiday, first spotted the distressed swimmers and signaled the surfers for help.

The group worked together to bring the swimmers to shore, with lifeguards on jet skis arriving to assist.

All three swimmers were taken to Nambour Hospital in stable condition.

Elderly man hospitalised after near-drowning at Maroochydore Beach

October 14, 2023

A man in his 70s was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital after being rescued from Maroochydore Beach on October 14. Lifeguards assisted after he was found unconscious in the water around 12.30 pm, but CPR was not required. He was reported to be in stable condition upon arrival at the hospital.

Man dies after being pulled from water at Cotton Tree

October 28, 2023

A 44-year-old Brisbane man tragically died after being pulled unresponsive from the water at Cotton Tree Beach in Maroochydore.

Paramedics and bystanders attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.

Noosa Triathlon death

November 5, 2023

During the Noosa Triathlon’s swim leg, a 53-year-old Victorian competitor was pulled unresponsive from the water.

Despite CPR efforts from fellow athletes and emergency responders, he was declared dead on the scene.

Event organisers highlighted the triathlon’s extensive safety protocols, including lifeguard, ambulance, and medical support teams, which were activated immediately.

The tragic incident marked the third such death in regional endurance events over the past decade.

Teen’s body found after Mary River water-tubing incident

December 24, 2023

The body of a teenage boy was recovered on Christmas Eve after he went missing while water-tubing on the Mary River.

The teenager was last seen around 10.15am., and after a frantic multi-agency search involving drones, helicopters, and water rescue teams, his body was found by police divers later in the day.

Man critical after near drowning on Bribie Island

January 26, 2024

An off-duty nurse, Chantelle Herrmann, and her partner Mark Watterson rushed to assist a man who nearly drowned after sustaining a head injury in the surf at Bribie Island.

With a spinal collar applied, the man was transported by helicopter to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in critical condition.

Watterson used his experience as a helicopter pilot to coordinate an emergency landing site for rescue efforts.

Daughter sees dad drown at Mooloolaba Beach

February 20, 2024

A man in his 60s drowned at Mooloolaba Beach while swimming between the flags, with his daughter witnessing the tragic event.

Although lifesavers and emergency responders acted quickly, the man could not be revived.

Sunshine Coast Lifesaving Service co-ordinated a rapid response and has since offered support to the family and rescuers.

Authorities suspect a medical episode or spinal injury contributed to the drowning.

Mooloolaba: Paramedics rush to Sunshine Coast beach to treat man

April 25, 2024

Paramedics responded to an emergency at Mooloolaba Beach after a man was found unresponsive in the water.

Lifeguards retrieved the man and, with the help of paramedics, transported him to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in critical condition.

Teen flown to hospital after being found unresponsive at Noosa Main Beach

September 1, 2024

A teenager was flown to Sunshine Coast University Hospital after being found unconscious at Noosa Main Beach following a “drowning incident.”

Emergency services responded quickly, transferring the teen from the beach to a nearby airfield for airlift.

The teen was in a serious but stable condition, with responders highlighting the quick actions that may have saved his life.

Woman fights for life after near drowning at Kings Beach

September 17, 2024

A middle-aged woman was in critical condition after being pulled from the water at Kings Beach.

Paramedics provided immediate treatment on-site before transporting her to Sunshine Coast University Hospital with life-threatening injuries.

French woman dies after rescue at Stumers Creek, Coolum Beach

January 3, 2024

A 27-year-old French backpacker died in hospital after a distressing rescue at Stumers Creek, Coolum Beach.

The woman and her boyfriend were caught in dangerous surf conditions, leading to a dramatic rescue where lifeguards and paramedics performed CPR on the woman before she was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in critical condition.

While the man survived, officials later confirmed her passing.

Young woman dies after drowning at Bulcock Beach, Caloundra

January 22, 2024

Lucinda McGrath, a 27-year-old from Brisbane, tragically passed away following a drowning incident at Bulcock Beach on the Sunshine Coast.

Emergency services responded to triple-0 calls around 3.45 pm on January 22, after bystanders pulled her from the water.

Lifesavers from the Ithaca-Caloundra City Life Saving Club arrived first, followed by Metropolitan-Caloundra Surf Life Saving Club, where CPR was performed on the shoreline.

Despite extensive efforts, paramedics were unable to revive her, and she was declared deceased at the scene.

Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

Man Drowns in rip at Happy Valley, Caloundra

October 25, 2024

A 67-year-old man drowned at Happy Valley, Caloundra, after being caught in a rip current while swimming with his wife on October 25, 2024. Emergency crews responded to reports of a man in distress about 12.15 PM.

While the man’s wife managed to swim to safety, he did not.

Lifeguards and bystanders conducted a search and found him in the water, but he was pronounced dead at the scene after being brought ashore.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast lifeguard urges swimmers to follow flag safety rules