The anticipated combination of big crowds, huge surf and intoxicated swimmers have lifeguards on edge ahead of a Christmas Day which is likely to cause chaos on Aussie beaches.
A hazardous surf warning is forecast for NSW beaches from Illawarra up to the Mid North Coast. On Christmas Day Sydney’s beaches are set to be pounded by a four-metre swell and several beaches are likely to be closed to swimmers.
The surf conditions combined with the anticipated huge Christmas crowds have Surf Lifesaving NSW CEO Steven Pearce a little nervous.
“Apart from the fact that it’s one of the first Christmases in quite a few years where we are going to have really hot weather throughout the Christmas period and Boxing Day, it is coupled with that hazardous surf warning and large surf,” Pearce told Yahoo News.
“It really is going to make it challenging for a lot of people up and down the coastline, whether they are visiting or holidaying at some of these locations.”
Surf Lifesaving NSW is pleading with people to only swim between the yellow and red patrol flags. Of the 17 drownings in the state this year all have been in locations away from patrolled locations and lifeguards. The latest being a woman who drowned at Werri Beach, south of Sydney, on Saturday. A day earlier a man drowned at Crescent Head on the Mid North Coast, and on Christmas Eve morning a man was pulled from the surf at Port Macquarie and successfully resuscitated.
The warm weather should see huge crowds flock to popular beaches like Bondi in Sydney. Source: AAP
‘Don’t go in the surf at all if having a drink’
Of the beaches that are closed on Christmas Day due to them being unsafe, Pearce said they will be closed for a reason and asked people to stay away.
“That large swell is really going to have a lot of water movement around, develop a lot of flash rips,” Pearce said.
For those joining gatherings around the beaches, anyone having a drink is warned to not enter the surf at all.
“We are asking people to be cognisant of their own safety, and if you are going to have a drink this is not the conditions to be swimming in at all,” Pearce told Yahoo. “You are only going to put yourself in danger, and the lives of our volunteer lifesavers.”
Rock fishermen urged to stay away on Christmas Day
Rock fishermen are also being asked to stay away from those beaches affected by any hazardous surf warnings.
“These are the kind of conditions where we see so many people get swept off the rocks, our first warning would be just do not go rock fishing in these type of conditions.” Pearce said. Anyone who ignores the warning should at least wear a lifejacket which may save your life if you are swept off the rocks.
Fishermen are being asked to stay away from hazardous rock platforms on Christmas Day. Source: AAP/Mary Evans.
“There are going to be tens of thousands of people heading to the beach over Christmas, if anyone sees anybody in distress, please call Triple-0 in the first instance, that will allow us to get lifesavers there and get emergency services on the road,” Pearce said.
Over 1000 volunteer surf lifesavers will be on patrol on Christmas Day along the NSW coast as well as council lifeguards. Perth beaches are also expecting a large swell on Christmas Day while there will be moderate conditions at Queensland and Victorian beaches.
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