Eight people have died in NSW coastal waters since July.
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Add to that the hundreds of surf rescues that have already been performed this season – including one at a Wollongong beach recently.
As thousands of people flock to Illawarra beaches on Boxing Day, the region’s surf lifesavers have issued a plea to ensure you don’t become one of those statistics.
And, while the message from those in red and yellow is the same as always – “no flags, no swim” – a recent near-drowning at North Wollongong beach has highlighted the importance of swimming during patrolled hours.
In that incident, two children – a boy and girl, aged 10 and 13 – were plucked from the water after they got caught in a rip about 6.15pm on December 18.
The flags had only been pulled from the sand 15 minutes earlier.
Had it not been for a festive gathering of North Wollongong Surf Life Saving Club (SLSC) members, who rushed to their aid, those children wouldn’t have celebrated Christmas with their family on Sunday.
“People get a bit casual with the water and they just go ‘oh, I’m only going into my knees’, then they’re up to their waist and then all of a sudden they’re gone – don’t take your chance,” North Wollongong SLSC vice-captain Kel Giddey told the Mercury.
“Once those flags come down at six [o’clock], just come home to your families, go home and enjoy some time away from the beach.
“Do the right thing, because we won’t be here after six and we won’t be able to save you.”
With warm weather on the cards, Mr Giddey predicts thousands will hit North Wollongong beach on Monday.
“We’ve had big, big crowds [of] four to five thousand people here on a nice, hot Boxing Day,” he said.
“We would expect a lot of people down here generally, people who don't normally swim, people with new bodyboards ... and they’ll end up in the water.”
Volunteer lifesavers will patrol beaches again on Tuesday, the gazetted Christmas Day public holiday.
WOLLONGONG
Lifeguard, lifesaver hours
- Stanwell Park: 9am – 6pm
- Coalcliff: 10am – 5pm
- Scarborough: 10am – 5pm
- Coledale: 10am – 5pm
- Austinmer: 9am – 6pm
- Thirroul: 9am – 6pm
- Sandon Point: 10am- 5pm
- Bulli: 9am – 6pm
- Woonona: 9am – 6pm
- Bellambi: 9am – 6pm
- Corrimal: 9am – 6pm
- Towradgi: 9am – 6pm
- Fairy Meadow: 9am – 6pm
- Nth W’gong: 8am – 6pm*
- City: 9am – 6pm
- Port Kembla: 9am – 6pm
- Windang: 9am – 6pm
*9-6 on Sun, public hols.
SHELLHARBOUR
- Shellharbour North: 9am – 5pm
- Warilla: 9am – 5pm
- Blacks Beach: 9am – 5pm
- Shellharbour South: 9am – 5pm
- Warilla: 9am – 5pm
- Warilla South: 9am – 5pm
- Rock Pool: 9am – 5pm
KIAMA
- Surf beach: 9am – 6pm
- Werri beach: 10am – 6pm
- Jones beach: 10am – 6pm
- Bombo beach: 10am – 6pm
- Kendalls beach: 10am – 6pm
- Easts beach: 10am – 6pm
- Seven Mile beach: 10am – 6pm
SHOALHAVEN
- Shoalhaven Heads (Seven Mile beach): 9am – 5pm
- Crookhaven Heads (Culburra beach): 9am – 5pm
- Tilbury Cove: 9am – 5pm
- Warrain beach: 9am – 5pm
- Cudmirrah beach: 9am – 5pm
- Narrawallee beach: 9am – 5pm
- North Mollymook beach: 9am – 5pm
- South Mollymook beach: 9am – 5pm
***All hours current as of Dec 24, but subject to change. Please check individual sites.