News

Swimmers, surfers, and boat users planning a visit to the beach over the next few days are being urged by the lifesaving community to exercise caution with a hazardous surf warning in place along much of the state’s coastline.

It was a successful trip for a group of dedicated NSW surf lifesavers who have recently returned from a trip across the Tasman as part of the annual Lifesaving Exchange Program where they were put through their paces alongside some of New Zealand’s finest lifeguards.

After impressing at the 2018 Lifesaving Exchange Program over the Australia Day Weekend, young club members Hamish Christie (Long Reef SLSC), and Lewis Warne (Cudgen Headland) were selected to represent NSW at the Annual Lifeguard Exchange in New Zealand earlier this month joining facilitators Nixy Krite and Damien Woods in a unique experience that will improve their skills and knowledge.

The hottest March day on record and a deceptively strong swell combined to create a challenging weekend on the beach for the state’s surf lifesavers all of whom proved once again to be up to the task in extreme conditions.

A sweltering autumn weekend forecast for much of NSW has volunteer surf lifesavers on their toes as they prepare for an influx of people to hit the beach.

While total drownings in NSW dropped this summer compared to the previous year, coastal drownings experienced a 50% increase during the December to February period.