Surf Life Saving Illawarra says the majority of people being saved at Wollongong and Shellharbour beaches are from outside the area, and has called for better education for residents from “over the mountain”.
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President Val Zanotto said Illawarra surf clubs had recently been recognised as the best in the state and country, but said a “spiralling” trend had been responsible for the spike in rescues that had prompted the recognition.
In a media statement, the region’s surf lifesaving body said it was “now evident that the majority of rescues are involving people from outside the region, who have very little knowledge or understanding of surf conditions”.
This spiralling trend means our lifesavers and lifeguards are under even more pressure than ever before.
- Val Zanotto
“This spiralling trend means our lifesavers and lifeguards are under even more pressure than ever before”, Mr Zanotto said.
“Yes, we do have the best lifesavers in the country, however, it would be far better if these rescues did not need to happen, and the only way would be through education”.
Highlighting the regions of south and south western Sydney, he called on the State Government to provide better surf education opportunities within schools.