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Mass rescue as a group of people are swept away by a current on a popular beach as Surf Life Saving boss warns Australians are four times more likely to drown today
- Three people rescued on Bulli Beach, NSW
- Four times more likely to drown on Australia Day
Lifeguards plead with bathers to stay vigilant after three people were swept away by a current at a popular beach in New South Wales.
Surf lifeguards carried out a mass rescue at Bulli Beach, north of Wollongong, on Thursday morning.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce told Radio 2GB it came as data shows swimmers are four times more likely to drown on Australia Day than on any other day.
Surf Life Savers have rescued three people at Bulli Beach, north of Wollongong, after they were swept away by a current.
More than a million people are expected to flock to the state’s beaches today, and SLS figures show drowning deaths nearly double on holidays and long weekends.
Pearce said Australia Day is traditionally one of the deadliest on the water in the calendar year.
“Research and statistics show us that if you go swimming on Australia Day, you are four times more likely to drown than on any other day,” Mr Pearce said.
“We’re throwing out so many resources and so many warnings for today.”
Australia Day swimmers are four times more likely to drown than any other day
Surf Life Saving Australia launched a swimmer safety campaign on Wednesday urging swimmers to look for tears before entering the water.
“One in three people rarely or never check for rip currents before swimming,” wrote Surf Life Saving Australia.
‘This summer it’s vital to take a second and STOP, LOOK and PLAN before getting in the water.
“Stop and check for tears, look for other hazards, and plan how to stay safe.”
Dark patches of water, fewer breaking waves, a wavy surface, and anything like sand floating past the waves are all indicators that a break could be near.
The campaign urges swimmers to look for the red and yellow flags and swim between them at all times.
As of January 25, 2023, 51 drowning deaths have been reported across the country this summer, according to the Royal Life Saving Summer Drowning Toll.
Surf Life Saving Australia confirmed that the three people rescued at Bulli Beach were safely returned to shore.