Surf Life Saving NSW and NSW Police marine safety warning to inland residents

During that period there were six drownings, including two fathers going to the aid of their children in waterways.

This spate of drownings and near drownings prompted a statewide warning by NSW Police and Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) today [January 5] about marine safety for people using the state's waterways.

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SLSNSW CEO Steven Pearce said it was inherently important to remember during the remaining summer months the safest place to swim is a patrolled location.

"This festive period has probably been one of the most operationally busy periods for Surf Life Saving NSW and its volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards that we've seen in over six years," Mr Pearce said.

"Not one drowning has occurred between the red and yellow flags. All drownings have occurred in unpatrolled locations."

Mr Pearce called on people from inland areas including the Southern Tablelands and Southern Highlands to phone 000 in an emergency.

"Water safety is critically important inland in rivers and dams and lakes the difference is there's not the afforded lifesavers on duty there," he said.

"If you are choosing to have a swim inland in NSW make sure you swim with a companion or partner and make sure you are confident with your swimming capability.

If you do see someone in trouble please ring 000. We have multiple agencies and emergency services that can respond and assist and time is of critical importance," Mr Pearce said.

He described this year's 1200 rescues as "amazing" and urged the community to only swim at patrolled locations.

"We have an abundant amount of resources there to protect the community during the summer period with our drones, our helicopters, dozens of jet skis and obviously thousands of lifesavers," Mr Pearce said.

"The primary message is swim between the red and yellow flags at a patrolled location."

He compared this year's six drownings to ten last year and said one drowning is too many.

"People may think that's a good story, it is in the fact that our lifesavers have rescued over 1200 people so if not for the efforts of our lifesavers dozens and dozens of people would have lost their lives this summer," Mr Pearce said.

"One drowning is too many and we've just seen the stories behind six tragic drownings since the commencement of summer."

This summer is an anomaly, according to Mr Pearce. He said it was the first true Australian summer with hot conditions since 2019 and the Black Summer bushfires.

"Since then we've had COVID-19 lockdowns, we've had COVID-19 restrictions and we've had vast amounts of flooding," he said.

"We've seen a massive inundation and influx of visitation down onto the NSW coastline. The beaches are overrun, we understand people are trying to get away from the crowds but the risk is if you try and get away from the crowds to an unpatrolled location there is no one there watching you.

If our lifesavers can't see you they have no chance of rescuing you," Mr Pearce said.

An unpatrolled location is because Surf Life Saving has deemed it an inappropriate place to set-up flags.

"Conditions can just change so quickly, and Australian rips are synonymous with the Australian way of life and the beach way of life," Mr Pearce said.

"However, unless you can identify a rip and more importantly know what to do when you're caught in a rip then essentially you make that decision to look after yourself and the safety of others there."

NSW Police marine area command Inspector Dave Carlin also lent his voice to today's marine safety warning.

"Most people are out there having fun and they're doing the right thing but there is a minority that don't follow the rules," Insp Carlin said.

"We're out there and we're pulling up and interacting with as many people as possible and we will be doing those safety checks, ensuring compliance and conducting random breath tests to ensure there's no issues on the water."

The Surf Life Saving NSW app beachsafe.org provides up-to-date information about NSW beaches including if they're patrolled or unpatrolled and open or closed according to conditions. It also allows users to log their destination.