29/11/2023
Surf lifesavers warning against 'deadly' bystander rescue attempts this summer
Surf lifesavers are urging Australians to only swim at patrolled beaches this summer following a rise in the number of deadly "bystander rescues".
A new report by Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW) found that in 2022-23, bystander rescue fatalities - where a person attempting to help drowns themselves - climbed to eight, up 150 per cent on the 10-year average.
SLSNSW President, Peter Agnew, said bystander rescues "can be a deadly decision" without the essential training and equipment, even if trying to save a loved one.