Byron Bay drownings add to calls for water safety review

The weekend drowning of two men at Byron Bay's popular Belongil Beach has raised further concerns about beach and water safety

The men, Indian nationals studying Brisbane, drowned after getting caught in a rip at an unpatrolled area of the tourist beach.

Police said the men were underwater for up to 10 minutes before they were rescued by volunteer surf lifesavers and taken ashore, where rescuers and paramedics tried to revive them.

Paramedics rushed the pair, who where in a critical condition, to Byron District Hospital but they were pronounced dead a short time later.

Surf Life Saving Duty Officer Jimmy Keough said the incident highlighted the danger of swimming at unpatrolled areas of a beach, stating "a short walk to the patrolled area would have certainly prevented this tragic loss of life."

Coming so soon after the death of teenager Matthew Barclay while competing at the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships last week, the drownings again highlight issues surrounding beach and surf safety.

In the latest Risk Management e-newsletter, Reliance Risk Principal Wayne Middleton comments on Matthew Barclay's drowning, writing "surf lifesaving is ... an organisation that has a long history in Australia with entrenched cultures.

"The challenge will be to reflect on these incidents and challenge long held beliefs about the way such events are held.

"While undoubtedly all members of surf lifesaving understand and accept the risks associated with their movement as do participants in competition, there is a public expectation that iconic sports such as this are safe. This is particularly so where presumably parents or guardians are approving of the level of risks on their children's behalf. With three junior deaths in close succession clearly this is unacceptable and something needs to change."

While Channel 7's Sunday Night report 'Surf Life Saving in Crisis' (see link below) has focussed on Matthew Barclay's death, professional surf life savers are highlighting that both tragedies emphasise the need for a comprehensive review of water safety in Australia.

Australian Professional Ocean Lifeguard Association Incorporated APOLA) foundation member Ken Holloway states "while Matthew Barclay's death is tragic and deserves proper investigation, ongoing drownings and the management of our marine environments has also to be reviewed.

"A lot of money is spent in life saving and it has a lot of public and political support but we need to look at what we are getting back for this investment.

"I believe that beach safety should be about more than volunteers patrolling a flagged area and beach rescue services should patrol all areas of popular and high risk beaches.

"We need to ask if we are we using manpower and equipment effiently to stop people from drowning "

Holloway is highly critical of management and policy decisions on water safety and the exclusion of APOLA and professional lifeguards from decision making and the membership of bodies such as the Australian Water Safety Council, highlighting that "professional lifeguards and before them beach supervisors have been active for one hundred years, yet our advice and expertise is ignored by what is a closed system."

He adds "TV shows like Bondi Rescue and Surf Patrol show that five professionals at a beach like Bondi can look after tens of thousands of people at a busy and sometimes dangerous beach... Surf Life Saving Australia can't look after 15 competitors at its own event."

View the full Channel 7 report at http://au.news.yahoo.com/sunday-night/features/article/-/13305677/surf-life-saving-in-crisis/

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