CHRISTMESS: BIG STINK HITS EASTERN BEACH

As summer crowds flock to region, lifesavers warn …

BEACHGOERS have been urged to make water safety a priority as authorities brace for more than 50,000 people on the Surf Coast this summer.

The warning comes as lifeguards yesterday patrolled Eastern Beach due to a surge in Christmas Day visitors. It is expected to be equally as busy today.

Geelong’s popular beach was one of nine across the state, including Brighton, South Melbourne, Smiths, Woolamai and Phillip Island, to have additional patrols yesterday.

Life Saving Victoria’s general manager of lifesaving services, Simon White, said the Christmas-to-Australia Day period was traditionally the busiest time on Victorian beaches, and that water safety needed to be front-of-mind for people visiting the region’s beaches, rivers and waterways.

It comes as a Melbourne man drowned after being swept off the rocks at Separation Creek, near Wye River, last week.

“We want all Victorians and visitors to our state’s beaches, rivers, pools and waterways to return home safe after enjoying the water this holiday period,” he said.

“Life Saving Victoria continues to encourage people to always swim between the red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches, never to swim alone and to be aware of the conditions.

“This also means being realistic about the limitations of your own wn skills and fitness.”

The Life Saving Victoria

Drowning report shows that 29 drownings happened in Greater Geelong during the 10 years from 2008 to 2018, while 24 Geelong residents drowned in Victoria. A further 80 Geelong residents were hospitalised for non-fatal drowning injuries.

According to the data men were 1.9 times more likely to drown than females.

Alarmingly, there is a 94 per cent likelihood of one or more drownings occurring in Geelong in any given year.

Mr White said people who don’t intend to enter the water still need to be careful, as unintentional water entry via trips and falls was the most common activity before drowning in Victoria last year.

“It’s so important to avoid swimming or recreating in dangerous surf,” he said.