Surf Life Saving NSW report identifies trends and areas of concern for the 2019/20 Summer

Surf Life Saving NSW has documented the worrying increase in fatalities in the 2019 Surf Life Saving NSW Coastal Safety Report, which details coastal drowning figures and identifies trends and areas of concern for the coming summer.

The report notes that NSW recorded a 22% spike in coastal drowning deaths over the 2018/19 year with 44 people tragically drowning along the NSW coast.

Lifeguards and volunteer surf lifesavers are gearing up for another busy Christmas New Year holiday period with a simple message: be vigilant.

The 2019 Surf Life Saving NSW Coastal Safety Report, which details coastal drowning figures also includes key findings:

• 86% of coastal drowning victims were male

• 59% of drownings occurred at a beach location

• 18% of coastal drownings were attributed to rock fishing

• 7% of those who drowned were attempting to rescue someone else

• There was an increase in drowning deaths involving scuba diving or snorkelling.

The figures are concerning for surf lifesavers and with summer upon us, water safety volunteers and professionals are looking to re-double efforts to reduce the drowning toll this year.

Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) Director of Lifesaving, Joel Wiseman noted “as our summers get hotter and longer, our lifesavers are busier than ever. Almost 13 million beach visitations were recorded in NSW in the 12 months from 1st July 2018 to 30th June 2019. Surf lifesavers and lifeguards carried out 628,539 preventative actions, 17,174 first aid treatments and 4,710 rescues.

“What the figures reinforce for Surf Life Saving NSW is the need for us to push surf safety messages throughout our communities and during patrol duties. We are more focussed than ever on getting safety messages into the community. Furthermore, we are redoubling our efforts to identify innovative lifesaving technologies such as UAVs (drones) and Emergency Response Beacons. We continue to invest in education programs with a particular focus on tourists and CALD communities.”

Advising that lifeguard and lifesavers are now on high alert, SLSNSW Regional Manager, Tony O'Mara stated "we have to reiterate the message to visitors to the area that they should swim at a patrolled beach and swim between the flags.

"Every swimmer needs to know their limitations too. As we know, rips can happen at any time and people have to be ever-vigilant.

"Surf Life Saving has emphasised to patrolling members the need to remain vigilant and keep people safe in the water."

O'Mara went onto explain that the latest figures show evidence of males tending to think they are 'bullet-proof' and high risk takers in certain circumstances adding that alcohol can also play a part in fatalities, particular in freshwater drownings.

Adding that the organisation is looking to new technology and new equipment to help save lives this summer, SLSNSW Chief Executive Steven Pearce concluded "Surf Life Saving is increasingly in demand when emergencies happen on the coast and people's lives are at risk.

"Our volunteers now provide a major rescue capability way beyond the red and yellow flags."

"We have rolled out new rescue equipment as part of a major funding package from the NSW government, including additional jetskis and support operations vehicles.

"Combined with drones which are our eyes in sky, these increased surveillance and response measures will give our volunteers a big boost to their capability.

Additional technology measures looking to be trialled this summer to enhance public safety include Permanent Emergency Response Beacons at unpatrolled locations and a trial of Beach Wifi technology that will deliver safety information in a range of languages and real-time hazard warnings.

Since 1st July 2019, there have been 11 coastal drownings recorded in NSW waters.

Drownings by NSW branch: Far North Coast 5; North Coast 7; Mid North Coast 4; Lower North Coast 1; Hunter 3; Central Coast 0; Sydney Northern Beaches 2; Sydney 15; Illawarra 1; South Coast 5; Far South Coast 1.

Click here to view the 2019 Surf Life Saving NSW Coastal Safety Report.