With daily patrols having officially finished for the summer, Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS), Mid North Coast supervisor Warren Keegan, has praised lifeguards around the Great Lakes for their efforts over what has been a busy, and at times challenging, holiday season on our beaches.
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“I really appreciate the efforts of our lifeguard team to keep beachgoers safe over the holidays,” Mr Keegan said.
Mr Keegan said local lifeguards had faced a number of challenges this summer, with consistently strong nor-easterly winds causing choppy surf, bluebottles and weed at many beaches.
The ALS provided professional lifeguards five days a week at Main Beach and One Mile Beach, and seven days a week at Elizabeth Beach and Boomerang Beach, where there were no volunteer services to patrol over the weekends.
They are always striving to deliver a high quality, professional lifeguard service for the community of the Great Lakes and MidCoast Council and I hope the community recognises their efforts.
- Warren Keegan
In total, ALS lifeguards performed more than 30 rescues, treated hundreds of people for marine stings, and undertook various associated duties to keep local beachgoers safe between the period of December 24 and January 29.
Despite the high number of tourists and challenging ocean conditions, Mr Keegan said only two major incidents occurred.
On January 2, lifeguards at Elizabeth Beach rescued a paraglider who fell into the water after taking off from the northern headland, while on January 14, lifeguards at Boomerang Beach pulled an unconscious man from the water and attempted to revive him.
In the first instance, the paraglider was treated for cuts and grazes before being handed over to the NSW Ambulance service, while in the second, the man was unable to be saved despite the best efforts of lifeguards and paramedics. It is believed he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Forster Surf Club president, John Quinn, said conditions at Main Beach had been challenging throughout the summer but that weekend patrolling members had only had to perform around 20 rescues.
“The majority of rescues have been people who’ve got caught in rips and then panicked due to a lack of experience and education.”
Sharks have also had an impact throughout the summer, with frequent sightings at Main Beach and Tuncurry breakwall.
Mr Quinn said that Main Beach was closed for an hour as recently as Monday, January 28 after the Department of Primary Industry’s aerial surveillance helicopter spotted an unidentified 2.7m shark lurking off shore.
There’s been quite a few rips, which is unusual for Main Beach. The wind and wave conditions have created them.
- John Quinn
Despite these various challenges, both Mr Keegan and Mr Quinn agreed it had been a successful holiday season on our beaches and that most people had acted sensibly and safely .
“The majority of beachgoers were swimming in our flagged area and following lifeguard directions,” Mr Keegan said.
“Overall their conduct was very good.”
