Life Saving Victoria issues water safety reminder for long weekend

Victorians heading to beaches and open water locations for the Labour Day long weekend are being urged to head to patrolled locations.

With the likelihood of drowning in Victoria increasing by 68% on public holidays across coastal and inland waterways and pools, Life Saving Victoria (LSV) is pleading with Victorians to make safe decisions on and around the water this weekend.

The reminder follows two drownings last week, along with the rescue of four people from an overturned boat in Mallacoota in the East Gippsland region.

The body of a deceased male was later recovered by Victoria Police divers from the Maribyrnong River at Avondale Heights.

Advising that LSV will have plenty of patrolled locations across the state this weekend to ensure people are keeping safe around water, Dr Hannah Calverly, LSV’s Manager - Research and Evaluation, stated "along Geelong and the Surf Coast we've got surf life savers out at places including Angelsea, Barwon Heads, Torquay and we've got the Beach Safe app that people can go to.”

With people expected to head to beaches and open water locations to take advantage of the long weekend, Dr Calverly said it's important to be safe, adding “making sure that children are actively supervised, you're not combining alcohol and aquatic activity and you're always wearing a life jacket when boating or rock fishing or in that type of environment."