Star spruiks simple strategy to deter drowning deaths

LAID-back Bondi Rescue identity, lifeguard and water-safety educator Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins ventured inland from his idyllic workplace last week to promote one of the country’s largest water safety initiatives – Float to Survive with GOswim.

As part of the initiative, for the first two weeks of December more than 250,000 GOswim lessons across nearly 80 locations began with five minutes of float training, based on Hoppo’s five-step Float to Survive strategy.

The easy-to-learn steps in the strategy are; keep your head and mouth above water, control your breathing, spread your arms and legs for balance, use a circular motion to maintain buoyancy, and signal for help.

Visiting Gurri Wanyarra Wellbeing Centre after being shuttled up the Calder direct from Tullamarine Airport, Hoppo demonstrated his technique to a range of locals, from infants to older adults to GOswim instructors, reinforcing that drowning can happen to anyone, regardless of their swimming ability.

The campaign responds to new data from Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia, revealing there were 52 drowning deaths in Victoria in the past year – approximately one a week – an eight per cent increase on the 10-year average.

Most victims were male (71 per cent), and over 75s were recorded as the biggest age group of drowning deaths.

The report also revealed that regional residents are 1.5 times more likely to drown than metropolitan residents and drowning deaths in Victoria most frequently occurred at beaches, closely followed by rivers/creeks.

After Hoppo’s Bendigo visit, the initiative is set to continue across the country and inform many more swimmers of the need to learn this simple-yet-essential skill.

“I’m stoked to have partnered with GOswim to reach tens of thousands of students with this lifesaving message, which is relevant to anyone, in any aquatic situation; whether it’s in the surf, creek, river, lake or swimming pool,” Hoppo said.

“In the lead up to summer, this is a water safety skill that is non-negotiable and I’m excited to get out and about across the country to spread this message to help Aussies learn how to stay safe in the water.”

Bendigo area manager at Belgravia Leisure (which manages Gurri Wanyarra) Carly Schintler said the return of the campaign couldn’t be more timely.

“While it’s disheartening to see the Victorian drowning statistics heading in the wrong direction, it’s also an urgent wake-up call,” she said.

“We’re thrilled that the Bendigo community has had the opportunity to learn from Hoppo today, and hopefully this message will save lives this summer.”

The campaign was recently recognised by the Australian Swim Schools Association, winning Gold for Marketing and Communications in Victoria and earning a national commendation for boosting children’s water safety knowledge and confidence in open water by a substantial 20 per cent.

GOswim is one of Australia’s leading swimming programs, delivering more than 2.8 million lessons annually to over 62,500 members.

Further information is available on the Float to Survive Australia website.