LIFEGUARDS NOTCH UP 73 RESCUES FOR SUMMER

Andy Mole says the new jetskis proved a great benefit in keeping our surf beaches safe this summer.

KIAMA Councils casual lifeguards have put their flags away for the last time this summer closing the door on another busy season.

Despite Surf Beach remaining patrolled by council lifeguards during weekdays until the end of April the other six council patrolled beaches have finished for the year.

According to statistics given to the Kiama Independent by council head lifeguard Andy Mole, nearly 300,000 people attended the patrolled beaches between October 2 and January 26.

With long periods of messy conditions coupled with a large swell, lifeguards carried out 73 rescues, up 20 on the previous summer, while 128 people were given first aid for minor injuries.

Lifeguards were forced to take nearly 4000 preventative actions, also slightly up on last year, although this was made easier this year with the acquisition of the new Personal Water Craft.

The jet ski proved a tremendous help during the season, Mr Mole said.

Just to have it there on big days and when the swell was up proved to be a huge bonus.

It also helped us removing other PWCs from within the 300m exclusion zone.

We havent been able to do that before but this year we had something to chase them on.

Praising the work of the 20 casual lifeguards who helped keep the beaches safer this summer, Mr Mole said he was hopeful to be able to retain a high proportion of this years recruits for the next season.

The lifeguard season went really, really well. We are all very happy with the way it went, he said.

The cherry on top for us was winning the South Coast Lifeguard challenge.

We were very happy with that and now we are hoping to send a team up to Bondi to take part in the intercity challenge later next month.

Despite the end of the council lifeguard season, Mr Mole said it was imperative people remained cautious around the water and continued to swim between the flags.