Latest news with #StevePearce
Daily Telegraph
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Daily Telegraph
Surf Life Saving NSW is to boost coastal patrols ahead of ANZAC Long Weekend following the deadliest Easter on record
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News. In the wake of the deadliest Easter weekend on record for coastal drownings in the state, Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) has intensified its emergency response efforts ahead of the upcoming Anzac Day long weekend. The spike in patrols comes after a devastating Easter break that saw six individuals swept into the ocean from rock platforms, highlighting a growing concern about coastal safety during holiday periods. According to SLSNSW, the risk of coastal drowning is more than four times greater on public holidays. Prior to this year and dating back to when recording began in 2004, there had never been more than three coastal drownings on an Easter long weekend. In response, SLSNSW has deployed additional jet skis and Rescue Water Craft to conduct proactive sweeps along the coastline. People gather to watch large swell at Coogee Beach on Good Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short Surf Life Saving NSW has bolstered its response capability in the water ahead of the Anzac Day long weekend. Picture: SLSNSW. This weekend marks the final patrols of the season for volunteer lifesavers, with flags set to come down on April 27, concluding a seven-month patrol period that began in late September. So far this season, more than 3,200 rescues have been carried out by SLSNSW volunteers and Australian Lifeguard Service lifeguards. Swimmers brave large swells at Coogee Beach on Good Friday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short An increased presence of jet skis and other Rescue Water Craft will be available to sweep the coastline. Photo: SLSNSW. In general, coastal drowning risk is more than four times greater on public holidays. Photo: SLSNSW However, 47 people have drowned since July 1, 2024, all at unpatrolled beaches or outside of patrol hours. While surf conditions are not predicted to be as dangerous as those seen across the Easter long weekend, swells of 1-1.5m are predicted for Friday and Saturday, rising potentially as high as 3-4.5m on the back of a southerly developing on Sunday. Surf life saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce, urged beachgoers to avoid unnecessary risks, particularly on rock platforms, a hotspot for recent tragedies. 'This is particularly important for those thinking about visiting a rock platform to view the ocean or rock fish this weekend,' he said. 'After the weekend we just had, I really want to implore the public not to gamble with their lives, the lives of their family members, or the lives of our volunteers this weekend.' 'Let's end the volunteer patrol season on a high note and send everyone who visits the beach home with their families.'
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Record-Breaking Deaths Amidst Massive Swell in Australia
Over the weekend, Australia's east coast – particularly in the state of New South Wales – was pounded by a massive swell, wreaking havoc on the coastline, and creating dangerous conditions for onlookers and those who dared to brave the waves. As a result, a record-breaking number of deaths were reported; at this time, there have been at least seven drownings, including a 9-year-old. 'We've had a huge fleet of jet skis out in the water in massive surf,' said Chief Executive of Surf Lifesaving New South Wales, Steve Pearce, 'We've had helicopters flying in search and rescue operations. We've had drones surveilling rock platforms. We've had thousands of volunteer lifesavers over the Easter Weekend, and hundreds of professional ocean lifeguards. So, we've had every resource out there. The issue, though, is people going sightseeing on rock walls, break walls, rock shelves…and importantly making the decision to go rock fishing in extraordinarily dangerous conditions.' Prior to the swell event, Australia's Bureau of Meteorology warned of the perilous conditions: 'While the weather across New South Wales and southern Queensland will be fine, sunny and warm for most of the weekend, you will need to take extra care if you're planning to head out to the water.'A low pressure system in the Tasman Sea is generating large and powerful surf.'Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming in these areas.'As the swell was incoming before the weekend, there were already reports of deaths in the region, and footage showing rogue waves sweeping people away at popular NSW beach locations. Additionally, amidst the massive swell, of course, surfers were taking full advantage as well – particularly, at Cape Solander outside of Sydney, some surfers scored what some were calling the 'day of days.' (More to come on the surf side of things.) But still, with such great energy in the ocean, often comes great tragedy for those who decide to get a little too close. 'It's the worst drowning toll on the New South Wales coast in an Easter weekend in all our records,' continued Pearce. 'There's been over 30 rescue missions…it really caught everyone off-guard.'
