Emergency Services are desperately urging beachgoers to swim between the flags and only during patrolled hours.
The warning comes after a spate of drownings on the Gold Coast, including a distressing rescue that ended in tragedy on Wednesday afternoon.
A local man in his 30s died after getting into trouble outside the flags in Main Beach, while a second man also had to be rescued, but thankfully is in a stable condition.
Lifeguards say the men were told to get out of the surf just ten minutes before being pulled from the water.
Nathan Fyfe from Surf Life Saving Queensland says tragic drownings can be avoided by simply listening to lifeguards.
“We’re seeing too many incidents and tragedies like yesterday where people are taking that risk and swimming outside those patrol locations,” he says.
“You’re not just risking your life, but you’re risking our lifesavers and lifeguards also.”
Heading into another busy long weekend on the Gold Coast, swimmers are urged to think about beach safety, with trouble in the water possible no matter what the surf conditions are.
Lifeguards say the message is simple, and it’s always the same.
“We’ve got great lifeguards and lifesavers that patrol this beach, they show up every day to make sure that people are safe on this beach,” Mr Fyfe says.
“We need people to start listening to them and swim between the red and yellow flags and between those patrol times.”
Queensland Ambulances Senior Operations Supervisor Adam Flory says it’s frustrating to see people not listening.
“It doesn’t appear that the messages are being heard, ” he says.
“We’ve had a number of incidents on Gold Coast beaches over the last week. It’s not hard. Swim between the flags, swim during patrolled hours, don’t swim at night.”
Emergency Services say rescues on the beach are traumatic for everyone involved.
“It’s a very public place, and it’s a very emotive scene because obviously, you’ve got a lot of community witnesses that will see, and they’re very confronting,”
“The side effect of that is you’re exposing first responders to trauma.”
Lifeguards are also encouraging the public to pull their mates up if they do decide to take a risk.
