Glenelg drowning inquest hears giant inflatable waterslide blocked lifesavers' view of swimmers

A South Australian surf lifesaver has told a Coronial inquiry into the drowning deaths of two young boys at the Glenelg breakwater that a giant inflatable waterslide obstructed lifesavers' view of the area.

Jared Schenscher was volunteering on the day two 11-year-old boys died near the rocks and says the slide, known as the ‘Big Wedgie’, got in the way.

Schensher told the inquest "the waterslide impeded the job of surf lifesavers.”

South Australian Deputy Coroner Anthony Schapel is hearing evidence in Adelaide from surf lifesavers to try to determine if anything more could be done to prevent future deaths.

Three children drowned near the Glenelg breakwater - which separates the far northern end of Glenelg beach from the mouth of the Patawalonga River - in 2016 and 2017, with swimming now banned in the area.

Schapel advised “this is a dangerous location and the activity that goes on around that rock structure just needs to stop.

"Despite all the signage that's been erected around the rock structure, and the vigilance of surf lifesavers, people continue to engage in swimming and other activity around the rock structure.

"One of the purposes (of this inquest) will be how that behaviour can be prohibited or prevented."

Best friends Frank Ndikuriyo and Thierry Niyomwungere, both aged 11 and originally from Burundi in central Africa, drowned on New Year's Day in 2016 while swimming near the Glenelg breakwater with three other children.

Then, in December 2017, an Indian student drowned along the same section of the Adelaide coast.

Nitisha Negi, aged 15, was in Australia to participate in the Pacific School Games and died after she was swept into the sea while playing on the rocks with four other children.

Volunteer surf lifesaver Lisa Harvey, who was the first to give evidence, said she had been a patrolling lifesaver at Glenelg for 16 years and said the message to avoid the dangerous breakwater area was not getting through.

She advised “the currents around those rocks are quite dangerous.

"Surging waves around those rocks can sweep you away quite quickly."

Swimming, bathing and diving within 40 metres of the breakwater was made illegal in 2017 and breaches of the rules can attract fines of between $160 and $1,250.

However, Harvey said despite the signs, surf lifesavers were still having to remind beachgoers to avoid the area "at least two or three times per shift".

Signs have been erected near the breakwater to advise people of the fines and to remind them not to swim near the rocks.

Harvey added “the signs have probably alerted some people, but lots of people still go on the rocks.”

She went on to agree that there was potential for another tragic incident to occur in the Glenelg breakwater area.

As reported by the ABC, the inquest will run for two days.

Image: The Glenelg breakwater and far northern end of the beach.