Swimmers urged to use caution and avoid dangerous beaches around the region

NORTHERN New South Wales lifeguard coordinator Scott McCartney is urging locals and tourists to be vigilant and swim at patrolled beaches during the summer holiday period.

Hundreds of people will spend the holidays at beaches between Tweed and Byron, with the next month set to be the busiest period of the summer.

Rescues during the December 18 to January 7 period can make up as much as 15 per cent of the total rescue figures for the year in NSW.

“Over the summer period we’re going to get the crowds no matter what, so it will be all hands-on deck,” McCartney said.

“Our biggest worry is when people are at isolated beaches that we don’t have eyes on.

“If they get in trouble, our response times are quite delayed compared to an open beach where we can just run down and grab someone.”

New Year’s is a high-risk period and three times more likely for coastal incidents and drownings.

People should avoid swimming at night, outside of patrol hours and in remote locations if celebrating the occasion at the beach.

McCartney said there are beaches across the Far North Coast where people need to use extra caution.

“Dreamtime Beach is a popular spot in Tweed and it’s probably where our scariest call-outs are when we hear of an incident there.”

“There is such an open stretch of beach at Ocean Shores down to Whites Beach at Broken Head that can be quite dangerous, too.

“We aren’t set up at these spots because we don’t want to promote them for safe swimming.”

McCartney said people should use the Beachsafe app, which provides detailed information on patrol status, facilities and hazards, as well as weather, swell and tide.

“The public have been really good over the last few years with swimming between the flags and chatting to the lifeguards with any concerns they have,” he said.

“Another time to be careful is during the early morning and late afternoon swims.

“We know people are going to swim at any time of the day over summer, but they should at least look for spots where other people are in the water.”her people are in the water.”