With the summer school holiday period officially underway, Surf Life Saving Queensland is urging locals to remain vigilant around the water.
Across the state lifesavers and lifeguards have carried out more than 560 rescues this season, mostly outside the flags.
The community is being urged to swim at patrolled beaches and between the flags after nine people have drowned on Queensland beaches already this year.
Wide Bay Capricorn Regional Manager Darren Everard says if they can’t see you, they can’t save you.
“We’re encouraging our beachgoers to come to our patrolled areas right up and down the coast, come say g’day to our lifeguards and our lifesavers.
“This year in Queenlsand we have had way too many fatalities and its just such a shame that people have gone to the beach and they have lost their lives.
“Here in the Wide Bay Capricorn, we have some of the best beaches in Queensland but people still get into trouble at our beaches.”
SLSQ General Manager Emergency Management and Public Safety, Matt Thompson says with the holiday period ramping up and a hot summer predicted, patrol hours will now extend from now until the end of January 2026.
“We’ve already seen more than ten million people visit Queensland beaches this season, an increase of more than 3.5 million on this time last year.
“Our lifesavers and lifeguards have carried out over 560 rescues and 221,000 preventative actions, nearly 5,000 more than last year, which shows just how busy our teams are in keeping beachgoers safe.
“Despite these efforts, we’ve recorded nine drownings compared with eight at the same point in 2024 with several other fatalities on our beaches.
“One drowning or death on our beaches is one too many.
“These are real families affected, and we are pleading with the public to help stop this upward trend as we head into the holiday period.”
Thompson says simple decisions can make the biggest difference.
“We can’t emphasise enough the importance of taking a moment to Stop, Look and Stay Alive this Summer.
“Stop and think before you enter the water, look for potential hazards and read the SLSQ signs at the beach and most importantly swim between the red and yellow flags.
“Stay alive by understanding your limits and those who are with you.
“If you’re already enjoying the school holidays, please keep and eye out for children and within arm’s reach at all times.
“Conditions can change quickly and you may find yourself out of your depth, so we urge everyone to make safe choices before getting in the water.”
