Lifeguard patrols extended for a week

LIFE Saving Victoria (LSV) has extended its lifeguard services past Australia Day for the first time, to provide an extra level of protection for beachgoers in the last week of the Victorian school holidays.

The lifeguard service will continue until February 3 at several Geelong and Surf Coast beaches, including Queenscliff, Ocean Grove, Geelong, Anglesea, Lorne, Torquay and Cosy Corner.

The RWC (jetski) lifeguard service will also be operating in Geelong (from Point Lonsdale to Torquay) and Surf Coast East (from Torquay to Anglesea).

There will also be air patrols by the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter.

LSV acting operations manager Kane Treloar said the weather forecast for the next few days was for warm weather, perfect for beachgoing.

“We continue to push our safety messages for the public to take personal responsibility, but also feel there’s the need for extra services in light of the 20 drowning deaths we’ve had this summer.”

So far this summer (December 1, 2018 – January 26, 2019), 160 people have been rescued by lifeguard services, which complement the volunteer lifesavers on patrol across 57 clubs in Victoria.

Lifeguards also undertook more than 60,000 preventive actions over the period, as a proactive measure against rescues and drownings.

To find a patrolled beach, head to beachsafe.org.au.