An extraordinary season for the Illawarra's surf life savers isn't quite over yet, but volunteers have already performed three times as many rescues as last season.
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During the 20020-21 season so far surf life savers have rescued 497 people in the Illawarra, compared to 145 for the 2019-20 season.
More rescues occurred in on January 24 and Australia Day (163 rescues) than the whole of last season, and these statistics only include rescues conducted by volunteer lifesavers that patrol from Stanwell Park to Windang beach on Sundays and public holidays.
Thanks to additional resources and the hard work of volunteers, there were only two more drownings this season.
All of the drownings were men. Five were rock fishers swept off Hill 60 at Port Kembla. Another was a man who attempted to rescue a child caught in a rip at Woonona.
Anthony Turner of Surf Life Saving Illawarra said extraordinary crowds, heat waves and challenging surf conditions could have led to a much higher toll.
"There were crowds we have never seen before in the Illawarra," he said.
"We expected it due to COVID travel restrictions, and were geared up in advance."
Shark sightings were also higher than usual, with nine in the Illawarra. Some lead to beach closures.
"There was a lot of movement of bait fish, which brings in bigger fish and sharks, but we had our drones in the air and regular jetski patrols," Mr Turner said.
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