Busy day for lifeguards prompts safety warning

Lake Macquarie City Council lifeguards have repeated their call for beachgoers to stay safe this summer after the busiest day on the city’s coast so far this season.

Saturday’s hot weather drew thousands of people to the beach, but it also prompted a sharp spike in serious incidents and rescues.

Team Leader Beach Lifeguards Hayden Copping said the first unfolded about 9.10am when a boat sent out a distress call in Swansea Channel.

Lifeguards at Blacksmiths sprang into action, launching a jet-ski and staying with the vessel until a NSW Marine Rescue launch could tow it to safety.

About 2.40pm, as the mercury reached almost 40C, a 20-year-old woman required immediate attention after showing signs of heatstroke at Redhead Beach.

“The patient was falling in and out of consciousness so it was certainly a serious situation, but our lifeguards administered oxygen and stabilised her until paramedics arrived,” Mr Copping said.

The woman was taken to John Hunter Hospital in a stable condition.

Less than half an hour later, Council lifeguards at Catherine Hill Bay and Australian Lifeguard Service lifeguards operating from Frazer Park were called to the unpatrolled Moonee Beach, where a male swimmer was retrieved in a serious condition after getting into trouble offshore.

“The patient appeared to have swallowed a lot of water and was only managing to stay afloat because of the life-ring that people on shore had thrown into the water,” Mr Copping said.

Lifeguards got the man to shore where he was taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition.

Close to 7pm, lifeguards at Redhead Beach, who had worked late due to the large crowds still at the beach, were called to a similar incident, with a female swimmer in distress around the headland off Glenrock State Conservation Area.

“The swimmer was in very bad shape, but the team attended along with City of Newcastle lifeguards,” Mr Copping said.

She was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

In total, Council lifeguards performed four rescues, attended to four first aid incidents and took almost 190 preventative measures along the Lake Mac coast on Saturday.

“Saturday was definitely our busiest day this season, both with the crowds and all the incidents our lifeguards attended to,” Mr Copping said.

“Fortunately, they all had positive outcomes. It’s a credit to our lifeguards and those of our neighbouring areas, but it’s also a stark reminder of the dangers of swimming at unpatrolled beaches.”

“We’re urging everyone once again to swim only between the red and yellow flags at our patrolled beaches and listen to the advice of lifeguards.”