Patrol season extended following devastating weekend

SURF Life Saving patrols will be extended for a further three weeks following a devastating weekend across the region’s beaches.

The professional patrol season was set to finish along with the culmination of Australia Day, a time that is considered to be the winding down period for coastal tourist destinations.

Life Saving Victoria General Manager Liam Krige confirmed critical surf lifesaving services would be extended to February 21 after facing an especially difficult start to the year.

Two more drownings were confirmed last weekend during separate incidents taking place in Barwon Heads and Anglesea.

The fatalities take the drowning toll to seven lives lost throughout the state since the beginning of 2021.

“Our condolences are with all those effected by these tragic events, which have brought the number of people who have lost their lives in Victorian waters to 42 so far since July 1,” Mr Krige said.

Fifteen more lives have been lost in this financial year than the five-year average in what has been the highest number of drowning incidents on record during this period.

It is believed that at least 22 people were rescued in the region over the unofficial long weekend which saw temperatures climb to the high thirties.

Four people across two separate families were rescued on January 24 as conditions at Thirteenth beach were considered unsafe for swimming.

A father was unable to be saved from a rip which was believed to have rapidly dragged the family more than 150 metres out.

The man’s body was recovered from the water by a Life Saving Victoria helicopter.

The drowning came as just one of two in the region, with a 58-year-old man believed to have capsized off a small boat near Anglesea and was unable to be revived.

“In response to this horror drowning season, we’ve made the decision to extend our lifeguarding services across 21 patrolled sites until February 21, ahead of there planned end after Australia Day,” Mr Krige said.

“We’re also extending four jet ski services to now include weekday support across the Port Phillip, Kingston, Surf Coast east and Geelong areas until February 28.”

Minister for Police and Emergency Services Lisa Neville called the move to extend the season “incredibly important”.

“We know life savers have prevented many drownings this summer, undertaking record rescues and preventative actions,” she said.

“In December we provided LSV with a $1.7 million boost to ensure the safety of swimmers at Victoria’s most iconic beaches.

“This has provided more lifeguards, more patrolled areas, increased aerial surveillance, more jet skis and an additional helicopter – these resources have been used extensively this summer to prevent devastating drownings.”

Life Saving Victoria continues to urge people to read the safety warnings to help put an end to the devastating drowning trends.

“It is important people remember that rescue is the last line of defence against drowning,” he said.

“This means making sure you’re heading to patrolled locations at patrolled times and swimming between the red and yellow flags.”