Not too sick to hit beach

SUMMER has been too hot to handle, with new research showing one in seven Australians has chucked a sickie to cool off at the beach.

The weather bureau has predicted the summer swelter will continue for at least another month, but a rainy spell expected to move in from this weekend might put the brakes on those heading to the surf.

A survey of more than 2000 Australians by finder.com shows that Queenslanders come second only to West Australians as those most likely to pull a sickie and head to the beach.