Well done to the Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC morning patrol and nippers water safety on Sunday, 28 February 2016 who performed rescues of 4 people at the southern end of Stanwell Park Beach.

A group of 4 men entered the water away from the patrolled area against the advice of life savers. Within minutes they were being washed south along the beach into heavy waves and towards the rocks at the southern end of the beach.

At around 10:08am the nippers water safety spotted the men in trouble, and raised the alarm. The water safety proceeded down the beach with rescue boards while the Peabody Energy IRB was launched.

The IRB was able to pick up 2 of the swimmers and return them to shore, while the water safety were able to assist the others in returning to shore. The conditions and proximity to the rocks made this a difficult rescue, and fortunately the life savers were able to pick up the swimmers whilst negotiating the waves and rocks.

Local surfers were also involved, and provided support to the swimmers prior to rescue.

Life savers discussed with the swimmers the merits of swimming in the flagged area and the dangers in swimming on un-patrolled sections of the beach.

The message is very clear, “SWIM BETWEEN THE FLAGS” at all times. Leading up to this weekend, the BOM and Life Saving Organisations were warning of the possibility of dangerous as a result of ex-TC Winston. The warnings were correct, but just because a beach is open for swimming doesn’t mean all the beach is safe for swimming.

Swimmers need to be aware that in big surfs the volume of water moving around close to shore, it needs to go somewhere and at beaches with rocky headlands these locations tend to form dangerous rips running out around the headlands.