Water alert as lifesavers try to stem record drownings

Lifesavers are calling on beachgoers to brush up on water safety before they go swimming this summer. Video via AAP.

Transcript

00:00We know that we had more than 3.7 million visitors to our coast last year and you know the statistics

00:07I think speak for themselves. We had a record number of rescues with more than 850 rescues

00:12performed over that time. There were an incredible number of what we call preventative actions and

00:18that is our lifesavers and lifeguards interacting with people in the community to keep them safe

00:23around the water as well as you know a very high number of first aids as well. So you know there

00:28is a lot of activity going on out there right across this period. We know we're going to have

00:32a warm season. We know that we are going to have millions of people progressing to our beaches and

00:38what we want you to remember more than anything is to when you get there or you know plan before

00:42you even get there make sure that you're going to a place that is patrolled and you can get

00:47onto the beach safe app and look exactly where those patrols are going to be. Swim between the

00:52flags so recreate between the flags that's where we need you to be because that is absolutely the

00:56safest place on our beaches. Tragically, tragically 54 people lost their lives in Victorian waters

01:04during 2023-24. Every single one of those drownings is a devastating loss for families

01:13for friends and communities and I extend my heartfelt condolences and sympathies to those

01:19who continue to mourn their loved ones. However this period highlights the remarkable efforts

01:25of our lifesavers and lifeguards.