Warning: it's time to swim - not time to die

Five drownings have been recorded at our region's beaches in the past 12 months, prompting a message of caution for the 2009-10 swimming season which starts tomorrow.Wollongong City Council's beach services co-ordinator Jason Foye said the deaths were a reminder to beachgoers to swim only at patrolled beaches and between the flags.Saudi student Hassan Alquahtani, 25, went missing after going for a late night surf at City Beach on April 2. Despite an extensive search, his body was never found.Liberian refugee Patrick Koffa, 19, drowned at City Beach on March 8 and Canadian Christian Raymond, 31, drowned at Kiama's Surf Beach on January 6 - both during late night swims.A 59-year-old Cabramatta man died at Bombo Beach on New Year's Day after becoming caught in a rip.Ahmad Almoubayad, 60, of Berkeley, drowned while swimming at an unpatrolled area of Puckeys Beach, Fairy Meadow, on November 15."Unfortunately, we (Wollongong City) did see three drownings and deaths ... particularly people swimming at night," Mr Foye said.In addition, 2000 rescues were performed by lifeguards.The council's 52 lifeguards will patrol on weekdays and Saturdays, complemented by more than 1400 volunteer lifesavers who will patrol 22 beaches from Helensburgh to Gerringong on weekends and public holidays.Mr Foye said lifeguards had spent the winter months educating 7000 Illawarra schoolchildren on beach safety.Special programs have also been run for overseas students at both the University of Wollongong and Illawarra TAFE.Council's outdoor pools will be open between 6am and 6pm and then to 7pm from October 31. North Beach was busy yesterday, swimmers undeterred by a water temperature of just 12 degrees.