Surf Life Saving NSW Coastal Safety Report 2021

COA S TAL SAFE T Y RE POR T 2021 S U R F L I FE S AV I N G N E W S O U T H WA L E S

C O A S TA L D R O W N I N G N E W S O U T H WA L E S 2 02 0/21

45

93% 7%

COA S TA L A ND OCE A N DROWNIN G DE ATH S

M A LE

FE M A LE

NB: Arrow indicates the direction of change from last year's statistic

LOC ATION

44%

11%

AT THE B E ACH

OFFS HORE

29% ROCK/CLIFF

B E T WE E N 1- 5K M FROM A S URF LIFE SAVIN G S E RVI CE

42%

AC TIVIT Y

22% S WIM M IN G

20% ROCK FI S HIN G

16% BOATIN G

CONTENTS IN T RO D U C T I O N

03

S EC TION ONE: COM MUNIT Y

04

COA S TA L V I S I TAT I O N

06

AC T I V I T Y PA RT I CIPAT I O N

07

COA S TA L S WI M M IN G A B IL I T Y

10

COA S TA L S A FE T Y

11

S EC TION THRE E: DROWNING A N A LYS IS

12

S EC TION T WO: C A PA B ILIT Y C A PA B IL I T Y

14

AWA RD PRO FI CIEN C Y

15

S U RF L IFE S AV IN G S ERV I CE S

16

M EM B ER S HIP C A PACI T Y

17

FE AT U R E: D E V E LO PIN G A DATA S TA N DA RD FO R N E W S O U TH WA LE S

18

S U RF EM ERG EN C Y RE S P O N S E S YS T EM

19

A S S E T C A PA B IL I T Y

20

RE S CU E S

21

FIR S T A ID

22

PRE V EN TAT I V E AC T I O N S

23

COA S TA L D ROWNIN G & FATA L I T Y OV ERV IE W: 2020/21

28

COA S TA L D ROWNIN G OV ERV IE W: 2020/21

30

COA S TA L D ROWNIN G OV ERV IE W: 17 Y E A R RE V IE W

32

U NIN T EN T I O N A L COA S TA L FATA L I T IE S: 17 Y E A R RE V IE W

34

D ROWNIN G D E AT H VS . FATA L I T Y

36

G LOS S A RY

38

REFEREN CE S

40

FE AT U R E: PR E D I C T IN G, PRE PA RIN G FO R, A N D R E S P O N D IN G TO COA S TA L E M E RG E N C IE S 24

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

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26

CONTENTS

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

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COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

INTRODUCTION

On behalf of the Board of Surf Life Saving NSW, it is a pleasure to present the SLSNSW Coastal Safety Report 2021.

Through this work, we seek to better understand how the risk of drowning varies throughout the season, and determine the times and locations of greatest risk. This is important both for long-term planning of surf life saving and lifeguard service delivery, and for up-scaling services in the lead up to predicted ‘coastal emergency’ days. Coastal insights: safer coasts for the future is being delivered in partnership with Local Government, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and other coastal safety stakeholders.

Throughout the 2020/21 season, the COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact on beach use in NSW and presented many challenges for our organisation. All our volunteer surf lifesavers and staff should be highly commended for their ability to be flexible, adapt to the changing restrictions, and keep services running as smoothly as possible given the circumstances. In April, a number of volunteers were also involved in the response to the widespread flooding event in NSW, once again going above and beyond to help our community.

The statistics in this report show that many people continue to enjoy a multitude of recreational activities along our beautiful coastline, but every life lost is one too many. We believe that this edition of the SLSNSW Coastal Safety Report will prove to be a valuable resource for our members, government, water safety organisations, emergency services, researchers, partners, sponsors, community groups, and media. It aims to inform them of the recent trends in fatal incidents in NSW, and the safety interventions and other preventative measures being undertaken

by Surf Life Saving NSW.

Despite the challenges, the highest standard of surf life saving and lifeguard services continued to be delivered throughout the state.

More than 11 million visitations were recorded on beaches in NSW in the 12 months from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021. Surf lifesavers and lifeguards rescued 3,768 people, treated 11,784 people for injuries or medical complaints, and performed 705,898 preventative actions. In addition, the Surf Emergency Response System (SERS) responded to 783 activations, which resulted in 246 lives being saved.

I commend this report to you as a vital tool to help us all understand and reduce drowning deaths along the NSW coastline.

Tragically, we again saw a considerable number of coastal and ocean drowning deaths during the 2020/21 season. A total of 45 lives were lost, and while this was four less than last year, it was still above the 17-year average of 42. Most drowning victims were swimming or wading (22%), rock fishing (20%), or boating (16%) prior to getting into difficulty. All of these incidents occurred at unpatrolled locations and/or outside of patrolled times, reinforcing the need for us to continue to push surf safety messages throughout our communities. While our surf life saving and lifeguard services continue to be the cornerstone of our service delivery across NSW, we continue to invest in and develop our community education programs and resources targeting at-risk communities.

Joel Wiseman SLSNSW Director of Lifesaving

Research into factors contributing to coastal and ocean drowning deaths continues to be a key focus for Surf Life Saving NSW to understand where, when, and why tragic incidents occur. The state-wide coastal risk assessment project, Coastal insights: safer coasts for the future, continues to progress well. Significant work is underway behind the scenes to develop a state-wide standard for the data collected by lifeguards and surf lifesavers, and develop innovative platforms to more effectively analyse and visualise data on beach and water use, as well as fatal and non-fatal incident statistics.

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

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INTRODUCTION

COMMUNIT Y SECTION ONE

4.7M

3.7M

200M

NSW adults visited the coast in 2020/21

Coastal activity participants

Individual coastal visitations

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

04

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

05

Section one community

C O A S TA L V I S I TAT I O N N E W S O U T H WA L E S V I S I TAT I O N & PA R T I C I PAT I O N

2020/21

2.3

3.6

4.7M TOTAL COASTAL VISITORS

3.7M

HOURS/ VISIT

VISITS/MONTH

COASTAL ACTIVITY PARTICIPANTS

NCSS2021: COASTAL VISITATION & PARTICIPATION SUMMARY

ba

Scu

Swi m Wa ming/ ding

Australians love the coast. To better understand how the coast is used, the annual National Coastal Safety Survey (NCSS) explores coastal participation, behaviours and perceptions. In the last twelve months, 4.7 million New South Wales residents (16 years and above) visited the coast on average 3.6 times each per month. This suggests that there were over 200 million individual visitations to the coast last year with 3.7 million coastal activity participants.

ing

Div

2.3M – COASTAL VISITORS 3.9 – VISITS PER MONTH

Ro

ck

48%

2%

Fis

5+ times per week 1-4 times per week 1-3 times per month 3-11 times per year Less often

Bo

g

2.3 – HOURS PER VISIT

4%

2.4M – COASTAL VISITORS

12% 9%

7% ng

8%

rfi Su

Watercraft

1.8M – C OASTAL ACTIVITY PARTICIPANTS

g llin ke

2.4 – HOURS PER VISIT

Land-b ased Fishing

or Sn

3.3 – VISITS PER MONTH

14%

4%

1.9M – COASTAL ACTIVITY PARTICIPANTS

PWC

ng

ati

hin

Figure 01

NCSS2021: COASTAL PARTICIPATION BY ACTIVITY & GENDER In the last 12 months, males and females both visited the coast and participated in activities in similar numbers. Swimming and wading was the most popular activity (48%) followed by boating (14%) and land-based fishing (12%).

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

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COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

A C T I V I T Y P A R T I C I P AT I O N PA R T I C I PAT I O N BY G E N D E R & F R E Q U E N C Y

Coastal participation varies by activity, gender and frequency. These pages explore the proportion of the New South Wales adult population who participate in each activity, their gender, and frequency of participation.

PARTICIPATION

SWIMMING/WADING

BOATING

LAND-BASED FISHING

8%

14%

FREQUENCY

GENDER

48%

50% | 50%

61% | 39%

63% | 37%

TOTAL 3M

TOTAL 900K

TOTAL 750K

35% 65%

28% 72%

OCCASIONAL

FREQUENT

OCCASIONAL

FREQUENT

OCCASIONAL

1M

2M

250K

650K

300K

450K

62% CANNOT SWIM 50M IN THE OCEAN WITHOUT STOPPING OR TOUCHING THE BOTTOM

38% 62%

FREQUENT

43% OF BOATERS BELIEVE THEY ARE EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO TAKE RISKS

07

Section one community

12% HAVE PARTICIPATED IN LAND-BASED FISHING THIS LAST YEAR

A C T I V I T Y P A R T I C I P AT I O N PA R T I C I PAT I O N BY G E N D E R & F R E Q U E N C Y

Coastal participation varies by activity, gender and frequency. These pages explore the proportion of the New South Wales adult population who participate in each activity, their gender, and frequency of participation.

PARTICIPATION

SNORKELLING

WATERCRAFT

9%

SURFING

7%

GENDER

8%

59% | 41%

64% | 36%

TOTAL 550K

TOTAL 520K

TOTAL 440K

35% 65%

33% 67%

59% 41%

FREQUENCY

58%

|

42%

FREQUENT

OCCASIONAL

200K

350K

FREQUENT

OCCASIONAL

FREQUENT

OCCASIONAL

170K

350K

260K

180K

82%

60% ALWAYS SNORKEL WITH A BUDDY

BELIEVE LIFEJACKETS SHOULD BE MANDATORY WHEN USING WATERCRAFT

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

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24% OF SURFERS CONSIDER THEMSELVES BEGINNERS

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

PARTICIPATION

ROCK FISHING

SCUBA DIVING

PWC

4%

2%

FREQUENCY

GENDER

4%

51% | 49%

48% | 52%

55% | 45%

TOTAL 260K

TOTAL 240K

TOTAL 150K

50% 50%

34% 66%

37% 63%

FREQUENT

OCCASIONAL

FREQUENT

OCCASIONAL

FREQUENT

OCCASIONAL

130K

130K

80K

160K

50K

100K

67% CONSIDER ROCK FISHING EXTREMELY OR VERY HAZARDOUS

75% OF PWC RIDERS ALWAYS WEAR A LIFEJACKET

09

Section one community

54% OF DIVERS CONSIDER THEMSELVES TO HAVE ADVANCED EXPERTISE

C O A S TA L S W I M M I N G A B I L I T Y C O N F I D E N C E & A B I L I T Y I N C OA S TA L WAT E R S

5%

I can swim constantly for over one hour and float as long as I wish

9%

7%

Overall

I can comfortably float and gently swim for up to 60 minutes

12%

I can comfortably float and gently swim for about 15 minutes

17%

CANNOT SWIM OR FLOAT

33

30 Percentage (%)

7%

37 34

I can comfortably float and gently swim for up to 30 minutes

23%

Ocean

40

I can comfortably float for over 1 minute and swim a little distance

24

23

20 16 10

10

I cannot float or swim

9

6

5

Can't say

27%

1 Unable to swim

Weak swimmer

Average swimmer

Competent swimmer

Highly competent swimmer

2

Can't say

Figure 02

Figure 03

NCSS2021: UNAIDED SWIMMING ABILITY IN COASTAL WATERS The unaided swimming ability of New South Wales participants greatly varies with 7% of New South Wales adults being unable to float or swim at all. Only 9% believe they could swim for longer than one hour or float without time limits.

NCSS2021: OVERALL SWIMMING ABILITY COMPARED TO ABILITY TO SWIM IN THE OCEAN Swimming ability in the ocean is significantly below people's overall swimming ability. In the ocean, 44% of people are weak swimmers and only 9% consider themselves highly competent.

9

In 2021

11

Last Year

38% 17

2 to 5 years ago

62%

26

More than 5 years ago

CANNOT SWIM 50M IN THE OCEAN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BOTTOM

62% 26

Never

10

Can't Say

Yes 0

5

10

15

20

25

No/Can't say

30

Percentage (%)

Figure 04

Figure 05

NCSS2021: THE LAST TIME PARTICIPANTS SWAM MORE THAN 50M IN THE OCEAN

NCSS2021: ABILITY TO SWIM 50M IN THE OCEAN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BOTTOM

Only 9% of participants have swum further than 50m in the ocean in 2021 while 3 in 10 have never swum this distance in the ocean.

Swimming ability is not always very high amongst coastal activity participants. Only 38% of NSW participants can swim more than 50m in the ocean while 62% cannot.

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

10

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

C O A S TA L S A F E T Y H A Z A R D PE R C E P T I O N & R I S K

50

50

Coast Surfing

Beach

45

61

Snorkelling

59

Percentage (%)

40 Swimming / Wading

55

Watercraft

55

30

30

Scuba Diving 19

20

54 47

Land-based Fishing 15

10

Boating

10

8

8

5

4

Extremely hazardous

Very hazardous

Somewhat hazardous

Not very hazardous

4

Not at all hazardous

2

43

PWC

39

Rock Fishing

39

Can't say 0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Percentage (%)

Figure 06

Figure 07

NCSS2021: HAZARD PERCEPTION OF THE COAST VS. THE BEACH

NCSS2021: PARTICIPANTS WHO BELIEVE THEY ARE EXPERIENCED ENOUGH TO TAKE SOME RISKS IN THEIR COASTAL ACTIVITY.

Almost half (45%) of New South Wales participants believe the beach (ocean, surf zone and adjacent sandy beach) to be somewhat hazardous.

80

Almost two thirds of surfers (61%) believe they are experienced enough to take some risks, while 39% of rock fishers and PWC riders believe they are experienced enough to take some risks.

80

Activities Hazards

70

66

Percentage (%)

60

69

67

66

62

61 57

50 40

40 33 28

30 23 20 10

16

15

14

12

9 5

Wa

din

g

d

Lan

ing

ish

dF

se -ba

ng

mi

im

Sw

ng

ati

Bo

ing

ell

ork

Sn

ft

cra

ter

Wa

ing

g rfin

Su

ba

u Sc

Div

C

PW

s

ve

Wa

s

ark

Sh

s

ile

od

oc

Cr

rM

he

Ot

rs

ge

tin

eS

n ari

o

/R

cks

Ro

cky

s

rm

tfo

Pla

n Su

re

su

po

Ex

ck

Ro

g

hin

Fis

al M

rs

ge

tin

eS

n ari

Rip

nts

rre

Cu

pic

Tro

Figure 08

NCSS2020/21: COASTAL HAZARDS & ACTIVITIES RATED EXTREMELY OR VERY HAZARDOUS Rip currents (80%) remain the highest rated coastal hazard by New South Wales participants, while rock fishing (67%) is regarded the most hazardous coastal activity. In general, the New South Wales population believes coastal hazards to be far more dangerous than coastal activities, with rock fishing a notable exception.

11

Section one community

C A PA B I LI T Y SECTION T WO

3,768

20,771

663,078

RESCUES

PROFICIENT MEMBERS

VOLUNTEER PATROL HOURS

11

129

89

Branches

Clubs

ALS Services

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

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COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

13

Section T WO capability

C A PA B I LIT Y

Surf Life Saving NSW enables communities and visitors throughout the state to enjoy our coastline by helping to manage their safety.

This is achieved through the contribution of volunteer Surf Life Saving Clubs and the provision of services through the Australian Lifeguard Service and Support Operations.

■ VOLUNTEER SURF LIFE SAVING CLUBS Volunteer surf lifesavers from 129 Surf Life Saving Clubs (across 11 Surf Life Saving Branches) managed the safety of members of the public at patrolled beaches from Fingal Head to Pambula Beach.

Between Saturday 26 September 2020 and Sunday 25 April 2021, 21,207 surf lifesavers amassed 663,078 volunteer patrol hours on weekends and public holidays.

Surf lifesavers actively prevented members of the public getting into difficulty in and around the red and yellow flags through preventative actions (142,999), while also rescuing 2,993 people who got into difficulty. They treated 6,998 people for injuries or medical complaints.

Rescue boards and rescue tubes continued to prove to be highly effective rescue equipment, particularly where incidents occurred close to shore and/or in and around the red and yellow flags. Sideby-side vehicles (SSVs) and inflatable rescue boats (IRBs) were used to provide roving surveillance alongshore and assist in the response to incidents further away from patrolled areas as well as difficult rescues, i.e., incidents involving multiple patients.

■ AUSTRALIAN LIFEGUARD SERVICE The Australian Lifeguard Service manages the safety of beachgoers in and around the red and yellow flags at 89 beaches on behalf of 14 Local Government Areas, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and one resort.

Lifeguard services were delivered by 381 lifeguards over the 2020/21 season. They provided over 115,000 patrol hours, which ranged from long-term services provided throughout the year at some sites, to concentrated services provided only over the summer school holidays at other sites. These lifeguards performed 562,690 preventative actions, rescued 701 people, and treated 4,764 people for injuries or medical complaints.

21,207 SURF LIFESAVERS AMASSED 663,078 VOLUNTEER PATROL HOURS ON WEEKENDS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

■ SUPPORT OPERATIONS Surf Life Saving NSW provides services beyond the red and yellow flags and respond to requests for assistance to help manage the safety of the wider community.

Rescue watercraft, jet rescue boats, and offshore rescue boat Rescue watercraft (RWC) operate within and beyond the surf zone and provide surveillance along the shoreline at both patrolled and unpatrolled beaches. These assets provide critical support to surf lifesavers and lifeguards and can respond effectively to time-critical incidents outside the red and yellow flags.

In addition, jet rescue boats operate out of Ballina and Kiama, and an offshore rescue boat operates in Sydney. These vessels typically provide surveillance and response to those who may get into difficulty in and around the mouths of rivers and estuaries, as well as those using harbours and areas beyond the surf zone.

Australian UAV Service and Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters Over the 2020/21 season, the Australian UAV Service operated Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) at 34 beaches as part of the NSW Department of Primary Industries Shark Management Strategy. This program was implemented to help reduce the interaction between people and sharks, and the UAVs were also used to help identify rip currents and water users at risk of getting into difficulty. In addition, nine Surf Life Saving Clubs were provided with UAVs to provide surveillance on weekends between holiday periods, as part of the Surf Life Saving NSW Membership UAV Program. A further 18 mobile UAVs were made available to Duty Officers to assist with search and rescue operations.

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters also provided surveillance and response to water-based incidents in NSW. The rescue helicopters operate out of Sydney and the South Coast. The personnel operating the rescue helicopters were involved in 209 preventatives actions, 74 rescues, and 22 first aid incidents over the 2020/21 season.

Surf Emergency Response System The Surf Emergency Response System, which is managed by the State Operations Centre, is a framework for the notification and tasking of surf lifesavers and lifeguards to water-based incidents. The system aims to reduce coastal and ocean drowning deaths by increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of the response, and helps ensure that there is clear communication and effective coordination between surf lifesavers, lifeguards, and other emergency services. The Surf Emergency Response System is led by a team of Duty Officers.

The capability of the Surf Emergency Response System was further enhanced by a recent upgrade to the State Operations Centre, as well as the provision of emergency response vehicles and rescue watercraft to Surf Life Saving Branches. These initiatives were funded by the NSW Government.

14

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

AWARD PROFICIE NCY

✓

✓

✓5,270

✓6,389

Advanced Resuscitation Techniques

Silver Medallion IRB Driver

6,559

3,427

First Aid*

IRB Crew Certificate

Bronze Medallion

Surf Rescue Certificate

18,395

2,376

Emergency Care

6,559

Advanced Resuscitation Techniques

Powercraft Aquatic Rescue

5,270

First Aid*

6,389

IRB Crew Certificate

3,427

Silver Medallion IRB Driver

18,395

Bronze Medallion

Surf Rescue Certificate

2,376

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

Number of awards

Figure 09

2020/21: PROFICIENT AWARDS HELD BY SLS MEMBERS IN NEW SOUTH WALES There are 20,771 proficient members in NSW, of which 18,395 hold a Bronze Medallion award and 2,376 hold a Surf Rescue Certificate.

Many of these members also hold a number of other lifesaving awards, totalling over 42,000 awards. This highlights the extent of additional training our surf lifesavers undertake to ensure they are highly skilled first responders.

* Total includes First Aid, Apply (Senior) First Aid, Silver Medallion Advanced First Aid awards

15

Section T WO capability

S U RF LIFE SAVIN G S E RVI CE S Duranbah ALS

Fingal Rovers SLSC & ALS North Kingscliff ALS Cudgen Headland SLSC & ALS Salt SLSC & ALS / Casuarina Beach ALS

Hastings Point ALS / Pottsville North ALS / Pottsville South ALS / South Golden ALS

Cabarita Beach SLSC & ALS

The Pass ALS / Wategos ALS / Tallows ALS Suffolk Park AL / Broken Head ALS

First Sun ALS / Byron Bay SLSC & ALS

Brunswick SLSC & ALS Lennox Head-Alstonville SLSC & ALS Sharpes Beach ALS / Flat Rocks ALS / Shelly Beach ALS /Ballina Lighthouse and Lismore SLSC & ALS

Evans Head-Casino SLSC & ALS Illuka Bluff ALS / Turners ALS / Yamba SLSC & ALS / Pippi Beach ALS Brooms Head ALS Minnie Water-Wooli SLSC & ALS / Wooli Beach ALS Red Rock-Corindi SLSC Woolgoolga SLSC Coffs Harbour SLSC Sawtell SLSC Bellinger Valley-Nth Beach SLSC & ALS

129 89

Urunga SLSC & Hungry Head ALS South Valla Beach ALS / Nambucca SLSC & ALS Macksville-Scotts Head SLSC & ALS / Grassy Head Beach ALS Horseshoe Bay ALS / South West Rocks SLSC & ALS Hat Head SLSC & ALS Kempsey-Crescent Head SLSC & ALS Town Beach ALS / Port Macquarie SLSC & Flynns Beach ALS

SURF LIFE SAVING CLUBS

ALS PATROLLED BEACHES

Tacking Point SLSC & Lighthouse Beach ALS Lake Cathie ALS / Wauchope-Bonny Hills SLSC & Rainbow Beach ALS Camden Haven SLSC & North Haven ALS Crowdy Head SLSC & ALS Taree-Old Bar SLSC & ALS Diamond Beach ALS / Black Head SLSC & ALS Forster SLSC & ALS Cape Hawke SLSC & ALS Pacific Palms SLSC & ALS / Boomerang Beach ALS

Fingal Beach SLSC & ALS Stockton SLSC Cooks Hill SLSC Redhead SLSC Caves Beach SLSC

Collaroy SLSC / Long Reef SLSC / Dee Why SLSC / Nth Curl Curl SLSC / Sth Curl Curl SLSC Nth Bondi SLSC / Bondi Surf Bathers LSC / Tamarama SLSC / Bronte SLSC / Clovelly SLSC Wanda SLSC / Elouera SLSC / North Cronulla SLSC / Cronulla SLSC

Swansea Belmont SLSC Magenta ALS / Nth Entrance SLSC / The Entrance SLSC

Toowoon Bay SLSC / Shelly Beach SLSC

Ocean Beach SLSC / Umina SLSC

Nobbys SLSC / Newcastle SLSC Dixon Park SLSC / Merewether SLSC Catherine Hill Bay SLSC / Frazer Beach ALS

The Lakes SLSC / Soldiers Beach SLSC Nth Avoca SLSC / Avoca SLSC

Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest SLSC & ALS One Mile ALS / Birubi Point SLSC & ALS

Wamberal SLSC / Terrigal SLSC Copacabana SLSC / MacMasters Beach SLSC / Killcare SLSC Nth Palm Beach SLSC & ALS / Palm Beach SLSC & ALS / Whale Beach SLSC & ALS / Avalon Beach SLSC & ALS / Bilgola SLSC & ALS / Newport SLSC & ALS Bungan Beach SLSC & ALS / Mona Vale SLSC & ALS / Warriewood SLSC & ALS / Nth Narrabeen SLSC / Narrabeen SLSC / Sth Narrabeen SLSC Freshwater SLSC / Queenscliff SLSC / Nth Steyne SLSC / Manly LSC

Coogee SLSC / Maroubra SLSC / Sth Maroubra SLSC Wattamolla ALS / Garie SLSC & ALS / Era SLSC / Burning Palms SLSC

Helensburgh-Stanwell Park SLSC / Coalcliff SLSC / Scarborough-Wombarra SLSC

Coledale SLSC / Austinmer SLSC / Thirroul SLSC / Sandon Point SLSC Bulli SLSC / Woonona SLSC / Bellambi SLSC Corrimal SLSC / Towradgi SLSC / Fairy Meadow SLSC / Nth Wollongong SLSC / Wollongong City SLSC

Port Kembla SLSC Kiama Downs SLSC / Kiama SLSC

Windang SLSC / Warilla-Barrack Point SLSC / Shellharbour SLSC Gerringong SLSC

Shoalhaven Heads SLSC & ALS Crookhaven ALS / Tilbury Cove ALS / Nowra-Culburra SLSC & ALS Sussex Inlet & Districts SLSC & ALS Narrawallee ALS / North Mollymook ALS / Mollymook SLSC & ALS

Batemans Bay SLSC Broulee Surfers SLSC Moruya SLSC

Narooma SLSC Camel Rock Beach ALS / Bermagui SLSC & ALS

Tathra SLSC & ALS Short Point ALS / Bar Beach ALS / Merimbula ALS Pambula SLSC & ALS Aslings ALS

Figure 10

2020/21: SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES SERVICES There are currently 218 SLS services in New South Wales. There are 129 Surf Life Saving Clubs and the Australian Lifeguard Service provides 89 lifeguard services in New South Wales.

M E M B E R S H I P C A PAC IT Y

9

20,000 Female Male Non-Binary

15,000

Number (n)

8,091

10,000

5,000 62%

38%

13,107 Bronze Medallion

Surf Rescue Certifcate

Figure 11

Figure 12

2020/21: PATROLLING SURF LIFESAVERS

2020/21: PROFICIENT MEMBERS

There were a total of 21,207 members who performed a patrol. Of the patrolling members, 61.81% were male and 38.15% were female.

9 members identified as non-binary (0.04%).

There were a total of 18,395 proficient Bronze Medallion holders and 2,376 Surf Rescue Certificate holders. New South Wales has 20,771 proficient memebrs.

25,070 Club Support Operations

Number (n)

2,000

1,500

663,078

1,000

HOURS 500 638,008 Board

Rescue Tube

IRB

RWC

No Gear

JRB/ORB/ RIB

Other

Figure 13

Figure 14

2020/21: EQUIPMENT USED IN RESCUES

2021/21: VOLUNTEER PATROL HOURS

Boards were used in 43% of rescues, followed by rescue tubes (21%) and IRBs (13%).

A total of 663,078 volunteer patrol hours were undertaken by New South Wales SLS services in 2020/21.

17

Section T WO capability

B E A C H U S E , P R E V E N TAT I V E A C T I O N S AND INCIDENTS D E V E LO PI N G A DATA S TA N DA R D F O R N E W S O U T H WA L E S

We are currently undertaking a data needs assessment, engaging representatives from Local Government Areas, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Surf Life Saving NSW, Australian Lifeguard Service, Lifeguarding Services Australia, Statewide Mutual, CivicRisk Mutual, and other coastal safety stakeholders. Through this process, we will identify and prioritise the types of information that are required to inform evidence-based decision making. This will help determine the specific data that should be collected in the data standard.

Coastal insights: safer coasts for the future is working to develop a standard for the data collected by lifeguards and surf lifesavers throughout NSW. Currently, Surf Life Saving NSW (including Surf Life Saving Clubs, the Australian Lifeguard Service, and Support Operations) and 13 Local Government Area Lifeguard Services collect data on beach use, preventative actions, and incidents in different ways and store them in different systems. This makes it difficult to aggregate and analyse the data collected across NSW. To enable efficient and effective analysis and reduce the risk of drowning and injury through evidence-based decision making, from a site-specific to statewide scale, it is critical that we develop and implement a ‘data standard’. As such, this project aims to:

As data collection should not inhibit the delivery of lifeguard and surf life saving services, we are also considering the volume and frequency of data to be collected, and collaborative strategies, tools, and technologies to assist.

1 2

Ensure that data on beach use, preventative actions, and incidents are collected consistently and accurately by lifeguards and surf lifesavers throughout NSW.

We will then work with coastal safety stakeholders to align their data collection with the agreed standard, help improve data collection systems and processes and analyse the data to inform evidence-based decision making. Training will be provided for relevant personnel to ensure data can be collected easily, accurately, and consistently.

Develop tools to streamline data collection, management, and analysis for use in data-driven decision making, with appropriate governance and security protocols.

Existing data collected by lifeguards and surf lifesavers throughout NSW has been reviewed as part of Coastal insights: safer coasts for the future. Fifteen distinct datasets containing relevant information have been identified and reviewed. In some cases, lifeguards and surf lifesavers are collecting data simultaneously at beaches where both services are provided.

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

This work is being funded by Resilience NSW as part of Coastal insights: safer coasts for the future; we thank the NSW Government for its ongoing support. If you have any questions, or would like further information, please contact Nick Mulcahy via nmulcahy@ surflifesaving.com.au.

18

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

SURF EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM

The Surf Emergency Response System (SERS) was activated 783 times between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021, which is an increase on the five-year average of 627. These figures represent the considerable contribution made by surf lifesavers, lifeguards, and emergency services in responding to water-based emergencies.

The interoperability and collaboration provided by SERS enables a more efficient response to those in distress, resulting in many more lives being saved.

800 700 600 500 400 300 200

As with previous years, SERS received the largest proportion of activations over summer (36.5%) and responded to most incidents during the afternoon (58.6%). The Surf Emergency Response System most frequently responded to swimmers in difficulty (22.6%), followed by members of the public using watercraft (21.7%), and vessels in distress (17.9%). These statistics are similar to the five-year averages. These activations resulted in 246 lives being saved.

0/ 21

9/ 20

20 2

8/ 19

20 1

7/ 18

20 1

6/ 17

20 1

5/ 16

20 1

4/ 15

20 1

3/ 14

20 1

2/ 13

20 1

1/ 12

20 1

0/ 11

20 1

9/ 10

2008-2021: NUMBER OF SERS ACTIVATIONS The number of SERS activations has increased significantly over the last 13 years; the largest number of SERS activations were recorded in 2020/21.

6pm-12am 12pm-6pm 6am-12pm 12am-6am

140

20 1

Figure 15

The SERS also demonstrated its value in larger-scale incidents, in particular the evacuation of at-risk residents during major flood events. The State Operations Centre, Duty Officers, Surf Life Saving Branches, Surf Life Saving Clubs, and the Australian Lifeguard Service provide valuable assistance and service to the community during these difficult times.

160

20 0

20 0

8/ 09

100

14% 23%

120 5 year average

14%

100

Swimming Watercraft

80

1% 2% 3% 3%

60 40 20

23% SWIMMING

Boating Self Harm

22%

Diving/Snorkelling Rock Fishing Rock /Cliff Related

18%

Other

e Ju n

il

ay M

h

Ap r

ry

ar c M

ua br

Fe

r

ua ry Jan

De c

em

be

r

r

be

No ve

m

be

r be

Oc to

st

em

Se

pt

gu Au

Ju

ly

Unknown

Figure 16

Figure 17

2020/21: NUMBER OF SERS ACTIVATIONS BY MONTH AND TIME OF DAY While January (138) was the busiest month for SERS activations, there were also many activations at other times of year.

2020/21: NUMBER OF SERS ACTIVATIONS BY ACTIVITY Swimming (23%), watercraft (22%), and boating (18%) were the top three activities that required SERS activations.

19

Section T WO capability

A S S E T C A PA B I LIT Y

Figure 18

2020/21 SLSNSW MAJOR ASSET LOCATION AND SERVICE RANGE New South Wales maintains a fleet of 77 rescue watercraft (RWC), two jet rescue boats (JRB), one offshore rescue boat (ORB) and two rescue helicopters. Their locations and service ranges are depicted on this map.

Sydney

Key to Asset Location Rescue Water Craft (RWC) Jet Rescue Boat (JRB) Offshore Rescue Boat (ORB) Rescue Helicopter

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

20

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

RESCUES

Figure 19

2020/21: RESCUES PER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (LGA) New South Wales surf lifesavers, lifeguards and lifesaving services performed 3,768 rescues across New South Wales.

3,768 Sydney

Key to Rescues per LGA < 14 Rescues 15 - 49 Rescues 50 - 149 Rescues 150 - 399 Rescues > 400 Rescues

21

Section T WO capability

FIRST AID

Figure 21

2020/21: FIRST AID PER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (LGA) New South Wales surf lifesavers, lifeguards and lifesaving services performed 11,784 first aid treatments across New South Wales.

11,784 Sydney

Key to First Aid Incidents per LGA < 49 Incidents 50 - 349 Incidents 350 - 649 Incidents 650 - 2,999 Incidents > 3,000 Incidents

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

22

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

P R E V E N TAT I V E A C T I O N S

Figure 20

2020/21: PREVENTATIVE ACTIONS PER LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA (LGA) New South Wales surf lifesavers, lifeguards and lifesaving services performed 705,898 preventative actions across New South Wales.

705,898 Sydney

Key to Preventative Actions per LGA < 1,499 Actions 1,500 - 4,999 Actions 5,000 - 19,999 Actions 20,000 - 99,999 Actions > 100,000 Actions

23

Section T WO capability

PR E D I C TI N G, PR E PA R I N G FO R , A N D R E S P O N D I N G T O T H E C O A S TA L E Q U I V A L E N T OF A ‘BUSHFIRE EMERGENCY’ season), while 71,220 preventative actions were performed (10%).

The Surf Emergency Response System was also activated 26 times, resulting in seven lives being saved.

Bushfires regularly pose a threat to people and property throughout NSW. But some years when it has been particularly hot, dry, and windy, NSW may experience a ‘bushfire emergency’, which can have devastating impacts like those seen over the 2019/20 summer.

These statistics represent a fantastic effort by surf lifesavers and lifeguards to keep our community safe in challenging circumstances. Tragically, three rock fishers lost their lives on the Friday evening at the start of the long weekend, while a snorkeller and a spearfisher drowned on Monday 25 January. All these tragedies occurred at locations that were unpatrolled and/or outside of patrol hours.

Similarly, every year millions of people flock to our beaches, but sometimes a heatwave and powerful surf conditions may coincide, greatly increasing the risk of drowning. Such instances could be considered the coastal equivalent of a ‘bushfire emergency’, where surf life saving and lifeguard services may be stretched in their efforts to manage the safety of beachgoers.

We are likely to face further ‘coastal emergencies’ when multiple factors come together to produce extremely high-risk periods. To ensure our services are provided where and when they are needed, Coastal insights: safer coasts for the future is working to better understand the three key factors that influence the risk of drowning and injury. These are (i) the hazardousness of the environment, (ii) the number of beach and water users, and (iii) their vulnerability to hazards. Understanding these factors will enable us to determine the locations and times of greatest risk, both for long-term planning of surf life saving and lifeguard service delivery, and for bolstering services in the lead up to predicted ‘coastal emergency’ days.

However, with planning and preparation, it is possible to identify the drivers of such ‘coastal emergencies’ to help predict them in advance, and ensure services are provided in the highest risk locations and boosted at the times they are needed.

Over the 2021 Australia Day Weekend (Saturday 23 January to Tuesday 26 January), many factors converged to greatly elevate the risk of drowning along the NSW coastline. The previous week had been relatively cool and wet, while weekend temperatures soared into the high 20s and 30s. Parts of Sydney had recently been released from restrictions imposed a month earlier due to an outbreak of COVID-19, and many people were relishing the chance to enjoy the weekend and public holiday at the beach. Over this period, the waves were small enough to be inviting, but large enough to pose a hazard to unsuspecting water users.

For more information on Coastal insights: safer coasts for the future, please contact Nick Mulcahy via nmulcahy@surflifesaving.com. au. This project is funded by Resilience NSW; we thank the NSW Government for its ongoing support.

Surf lifesavers and lifeguards rescued 815 people over this four-day period, which accounted for 22% of all rescues recorded from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021 (3,768 rescues). A further 2,467 people were treated for injuries or medical complaints (21% of the 2020/21

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

24

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

Number of people rescued by surf lifesaver Maximum temperature (°C) 400

39 38

300

36

250

35 34

200

33 150 32 100

Maximum temperature (°C)

Number of people rescued

350

31

50

30 29

0 Sat, 23 Jan

Sun, 24 Jan

Mon, 25 Jan

Tues, 26 Jan

Figure 22

NUMBER OF PEOPLE RESCUED OVER AUSTRALIA DAY WEEKEND 2021 Number of rescues performed by surf lifesavers and lifeguards over the 2021 Australia Day Weekend (Saturday 23 January to Tuesday 26 January) at beaches throughout NSW. The maximum temperature recorded at Observatory Hill, Sydney, is also displayed.

25

Section T WO capability

D R O W N I N G A N A LY S I S SECTION THREE

45 COASTAL

93 % MALE

DROWNING DEATHS

7 % FEMALE

DROWNING CAUSAL FACTORS 2004-21

Medical/Injury

Rip Currents

25%

25%

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

26

Alcohol/Drugs

16%

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

Section three

27

DROWNING ANALYSIS

C O A S TA L D R O W N I N G & F ATA L I T Y O V E R V I E W N E W S O U T H WA L E S 2 02 0/21: Y E A R I N R E V I E W

SLSNSW monitors both drowning and other coastal fatalities to better understand the impact on the New South Wales community.

A total of 88 deaths were recorded along the New South Wales coast in 2020/21. Over half were due to drowning (n=45), with a further 43 coastal fatalities from other causes (19 of these were unintentional). Males continue to be over represented, accounting for 93% of the past year’s coastal and ocean drowning deaths.

Swimming and wading, rock fishing, and boating were the top activities. This year snorkelling, people attempting a rescue, and boating incidents were above average, while swimming and wading incidents were below average. One third of all drowning deaths over the past year occurred greater than five kilometres from a surf life saving service. Over half (60%) of this years drowning deaths occurred at an unpatrolled location, during the patrol season. These results highlight the importance of surf life saving services in New South Wales.

27%

88

49%

FATAL INCIDENTS Coastal drowning death

22%

Ocean drowning death Unintentional fatality

2%

Intentional fatality

Figure 23

2020/21: OVERVIEW OF FATAL INCIDENTS RECORDED IN NEW SOUTH WALES

Coastal incidents can have devastating impacts on families and communities, including surf lifesaving personnel. Involvement in major rescues, traumatic or fatal events can have long-lasting effects on the health and wellbeing of those involved. Research plays a central role in monitoring changes, identifying new areas or populations of concern, and guides future prevention or mitigation strategies. As New South Wales’s peak coastal safety authority, understanding this informs resource allocation to support surf life saving members and the community service they provide.

45

43

DROWNING DEATHS

43

COASTAL

2

OCEAN

COASTAL FATALITIES

24

INTENTIONAL

19

UNINTENTIONAL

18 25

AQUATIC

NON AQUATIC

Sydney North Coast Hunter Far South Coast Illawarra Drowning death

Far North Coast

Unintentional fatality

Lower North Coast

Intentional fatality

Mid North Coast Sydney Northern Beaches South Coast Central Coast 05%

10%

15% Percentage (%)

Figure 24

2020/21: PROPORTION OF FATAL COASTAL INCIDENTS FOR NEW SOUTH WALES BRANCHES

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

28

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

20%

25%

Sydney

Coastal drowning death Coastal fatality

Figure 25

2020/21: NEW SOUTH WALES COASTAL DROWNING DEATHS & FATALITIES In 2020/21, there were 45 coastal and ocean drowning deaths and 43 coastal fatalities. Red and blue circles indicate drowning death and coastal fatality numbers respectively.

2020/21: LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA COASTAL BLACKSPOTS A blackspot is an area that has recorded a concentration of incidents and has a high probability or risk of ongoing reoccurrence.

These New South Wales local government areas recorded the highest numbers of fatal coastal incidents in 2020/21.

National Parks and Wildlife Service NSW (26), Coffs Harbour (7), Wollongong (7), Waverley (5), Northern Beaches (5), Newcastle (5), Mid-Coast (5), Ballina (4), Eurobodalla (3)

Section three

29

DROWNING ANALYSIS

C O A S TA L D R O W N I N G O V E R V I E W N E W S O U T H WA L E S 2 02 0/21: Y E A R I N R E V I E W

30

1.2

25

1.0

20

0.8

15

0.6

10

0.4

5

0.2

0-

9

10

9

-1

20

9

-2

30

9

-3

40

9

-4

50

9

-5

60

9

-6

70

9

-7

80

0.55

RATE/100,000 POP.

Rate / 100,000 pop.

Percentage (%)

45

DROWNING DEATHS

93%

+

7%

Figure 26

2020/21 COASTAL DROWNING DEATHS BY AGE Forty-five drowning deaths were recorded on the New South Wales coast in 2020/21, with a mortality rate of 0.55/100,000 population.

Most incidents involved males, with a mortality rate of 1.04/100,000 men. Those aged 60-69 years old accounted for the highest number of coastal drowning deaths, followed by 20-29 year olds. Those aged 60-69 years old also recorded the highest mortality rate (1.03/100,000 pop.).

Swimming/Wading

7%

Beach

2%

Rock/Cliff

Rock Fishing

Offshore

7%

Port/Marina

Boating

Bay Watercraft

River/Creek

11% 44%

Snorkelling

44%

Attempting a Rescue Fall

BEACH

Jump

29%

Scuba Diving Unknown 5

10

15

20

25

Percentage (%)

Figure 27

Figure 28

2020/21: COASTAL DROWNING DEATHS BY ACTIVITY

2020/21: COASTAL DROWNING DEATHS BY LOCATION

Swimming/wading recorded the most drowning deaths in New South Wales (22%), followed by rock fishing (20%) and boating incidents (16%).

Most drowning deaths occurred at beaches (44%), followed by rock/cliff (29%) and offshore (11%) locations.

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

30

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

Winter

47%

Spring

18%

Summer

27%

Autumn

36% 13%

31%

4%

24%

SUMMER

31% Offshore

Major Cities

Inner Regional

Outer Regional

Figure 29

Figure 30

2020/21: REMOTENESS CLASSIFICATION OF DROWNING LOCATIONS

2020/21: COASTAL DROWNING DEATHS BY SEASON Most drowning deaths occurred during Summer (31%; Dec-Feb), followed by Autumn (27%; Mar-May), then Spring (24%; Sep-Nov) months.

Almost half of the recorded New South Wales coastal and ocean drowning deaths occurred in major cities (47%), followed by inner regional (36%), and outer regional (13%). The ‘remoteness classification’ was coded using Australian Statistical Geographic Standard Remoteness Areas.

50

13% 27%

42

Patrolled location, but outside patrol periods

33 30

Unpatrolled location, outside patrol season

Percentage (%)

60%

40

Unpatrolled location, but during patrol period

UNPATROLLED LOCATION, BUT DURING PATROL PERIOD

25

20

10

60% < 1km

1-5km

> 5km

Figure 31

Figure 32

2020/21: PATROL STATUS OF DROWNING LOCATIONS Most drowning deaths occurred during patrol periods, but at unpatrolled locations (60%).

2020/21: COASTAL DROWNING DEATH DISTANCE FROM A SURF LIFE SAVING SERVICE Three quarters of coastal drowning deaths (75%) occurred greater than 1km from a surf life saving service.

Section three

31

DROWNING ANALYSIS

C O A S TA L D R O W N I N G O V E R V I E W N E W S O U T H WA L E S 2 0 0 4 -21: 17 Y E A R R E V I E W

1% <1%

60

Female

6%

0.8 0.7

50

11%

40

Rate / 100,000 pop.

0.6 Number (n)

Beach Rock/Cliff Offshore Bay Port/Marina Coastal Pool River/Creek Jetty Other

2%

Male

0.5

30

0.4 0.3

20

0.2 10

49%

49% BEACH 29%

2020/21

2019/20

2018/19

2017/18

2016/17

2015/16

2014/15

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

2010/11

2009/10

2008/09

2007/08

2006/07

2005/06

2004/05

0.1

Figure 33

Figure 34

2004-21: COASTAL DROWNING DEATH TRENDS (N=707)

2004-21: DROWNING LOCATION CATEGORY

The number of coastal drowning deaths in 2020/21 for New South Wales (n=45) was above the 17-year average of 42, while the mortality rate (0.55/100,000 pop.) was lower than average (0.56/100,000 pop.).

Since 2004/05, New South Wales beaches have recorded the most drowning deaths (49%), followed by rock/cliff (29%) and offshore locations (11%).

Swimming/Wading

42

Rock Fishing Boating

AVERAGE DROWNING DEATHS

Watercraft

0.56

AVERAGE RATE PER 100,000 POPULATION

Attempting a Rescue Fall Snorkelling Scuba Diving Jump 2004-21 Other

2020/21

Unknown

89% 05

10

15

20

25

30

11%

35

Percentage (%)

28%

Figure 35

2004-21 PROPORTION OF DROWNING DEATHS BY ACTIVITY COMPARED TO 2020/21

20-34 YEAR OLDS

Since 2004/05, swimming/wading has recorded the most drowning deaths (33%), followed by rock fishing (19%) and then boating incidents (13%). This year, boating and rock fishing were above average, while swimming/wading incidents were below average.

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

27%

45-59 YEAR OLDS

The 20-34 year old age group accounts for 28% of coastal drowning deaths, while 45-59 year olds represent 27%.

32

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

9 3 2 4 13 4 5 2

2 6 6 2 2

2 2

5 2 2 13 2

2 2 2 3 2 2 3

4 3 4

2 2 3 7 4 2 2 3 2 3 4 2 7 8 2 3 3 4 2 2 3 4 5 2 2 15 3 5 6

4

2

3 6

SYDNEY

6 2 10 4 7 2 4 5 3 2 5 4 3 2 13 9 2 2 2 2 2 2

29 20 17 6 6 4 5 4 3 2 21 17 17 7 5 3 15 4 4

2

CANBERRA 5 2 2 4

4 3 3

3

2 4 2 3 2

2

2

2 3

Attempting a Rescue Boating & PWC Fall Jump Land-based Fishing Non Aquatic Transport

Other Rock Fishing Scuba Diving Snorkelling Swimming/Wading Unknown

4

Watercraft Multiple instances per activity at the same location Capital city

Section three

Lord Howe Island

33

DROWNING ANALYSIS

U N I N T E N T I O N A L C O A S TA L F ATA L I T I E S N E W S O U T H WA L E S 2 0 0 4 -21: 17 Y E A R R E V I E W

35

0.45

Male Female

1%

0.40

30

3%

Number (n)

0.30 20

0.25

15

0.20 0.15

Rate / 100,000 pop.

0.35 25

12% 49%

49%

0.10

22%

2020/21

2019/20

2018/19

2017/18

2016/17

2015/16

2014/15

2013/14

2012/13

2011/12

2010/11

2009/10

2008/09

2007/08

2006/07

2005/06

Beach Rock/Cliff Offshore Bay Port/Marina Coastal Pool Jetty Other Unknown

BEACH

0.05

2004/05

2%

7%

10 5

3%

Figure 36

Figure 37

2004-21: UNINTENTIONAL COASTAL FATALITY TRENDS (N=318)

2004-21: FATALITY LOCATION CATEGORY Since 2004/05, New South Wales beaches have recorded the most other fatalities (49%), followed by rock/cliff (22%) and offshore locations (12%).

The number of unintentional coastal fatalities (n=19) was equal to average, while the mortality rate (0.23/100,000 pop.) for New South Wales was just below average (0.25/100,000 pop.).

Boating Swimming/Wading

19

Fall Watercraft

AVERAGE COASTAL FATALITIES

Non Aquatic Transport

0.25

AVERAGE RATE PER 100,000 POPULATION

Scuba Diving Land-based Fishing

2004-21

Snorkelling

2020/21

Jump Rock Fishing Other Unknown 5

10

15

20

25

30

84%

35

Percentage (%)

19%

Figure 38

2004-21: PROPORTION OF COASTAL FATALITIES BY ACTIVITY COMPARED TO 2020/21

20-34 YEAR OLDS

Since 2004/05, boating has recorded the most coastal fatalities (18%), followed by swimming/wading (16%), and then fall-related incidents (15%). Over the last year, boating and falls were below average, swimming was equal, and watercraft was above average.

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

16%

41%

55-74 YEAR OLDS

The 20-34 year old age group accounts for 19% of other coastal fatalites, while 55-74 year olds represent 41%.

34

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

5 3 3 4 3

2 3 4 6 2 2 2 4 4 2

2 2

2

2

6 2 3 4

2

2 3 3 3 7 2 3 5 5 9 12 21 3 2 2 2 2

SYDNEY 2

2 2 3

11 8 3 3 5 3 2 2

2

CANBERRA

3 2 2 2 3 2

Attempting a Rescue Boating & PWC Fall Jump Land-based Fishing Non Aquatic Transport

Other Rock Fishing Scuba Diving Snorkelling Swimming/Wading Unknown

4

Watercraft Multiple instances per activity at the same location Capital city

Section three

35

DROWNING ANALYSIS

Lord Howe Island

D R O W N I N G D E AT H V S . F ATA L I T Y N E W S O U T H WA L E S 2 0 0 4 -21: 17 Y E A R R E V I E W

D

2.2 : 1

Drowning

Figure 39

2004-21: COASTAL DROWNING & FATALITY RATIO

Fatality

For each coastal fatality, Australia records 1.7 coastal drowning deaths, whereas New South Wales records the second largest ratio with 2.2 coastal drowning deaths per fatality.

5 4.40 3.96

4

Percentage (%)

rowning deaths represent the majority of unintentional coastal deaths, with over two drowning deaths recorded for every coastal fatality in New South Wales since 2004/05. There are clear differences observed within coastal activities, with drowning more prevalent for swimmers and waders, while coastal fatalities include more boating incidents.

Alcohol and drugs are known risk factors for coastal deaths, known to contribute to 16% coastal drowning deaths and 14% of other coastal fatalities. Mixing alcohol and drugs with coastal activities is dangerous, with some activities riskier than others (Figure 40). Fall & jumps, swimming/ wading, and boating & PWC can be especially deadly when combined with alcohol and drug consumption.

Fatal incidents can be influenced by multiple factors, but some may be more common in one incident type compared to another. Rip currents are contributing factors in 25% of coastal drowning deaths, but only 1% of coastal fatalities. On the other hand, precipitating medical factors and injuries dominate unintentional coastal fatalities (81%) compared to 25% of coastal drowning deaths.

Since SLS extended its research to include all coastal fatalities, we are able to better understand the challenges facing our membership which helps to develop a holistic approach to managing coastal safety and resource allocation for surf life saving services across the New South Wales coastline.

Drowning Deaths Coastal Fatalities

3 2.52

2

1.84 1.56

1.41

1.26

1.27

1 0.63

0.71

0.63

0.42 0

0

ls Fal

ps

um

&J

im

Sw

ing

WC

ad

/W

ng mi

ng

ti oa

&P

B

ft

cra

ter

Wa

ck

Ro

0.14 ort

g

hin

Fis

nsp

Tra

qu

nA

No

c ati

0.31

0 ng

elli

ork

Sn

aR

0

ing

ish

dF

se -ba

d

Lan

0.28

0

ue

esc

ng pti

em

Att

0

ing

ba

u Sc

Div

Figure 40

2004-21: ALCOHOL & DRUGS IN COASTAL DEATHS Alcohol and drugs are known to contribute to 16% of drowning deaths and 14% of coastal fatalities in New South Wales. However they are more prevalent in some activities compared to others. Falls & jumps, swimming/wading and boating & PWC can be especially deadly when mixed with alcohol and drugs.

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

36

COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

D R O W N I N G V S . F ATA L I T Y 2 0 0 4 -21: C AU S A L A N A LY S I S

DROWNING

FATALITY

HOW

HOW

52%

25%

WHY

25%

81%

DUE TO MEDICAL/INJURY

18%

38%

DUE TO MEDICAL/INJURY

10%

49%

INJURY-RELATED AGED 50-69 YEARS OLD

NB: May not total 100% due to unknown cases

52%

46%

37%

INJURY-RELATED AGED 15-29 YEARS OLD

WHO

71%

11%

NON-RESIDENTS

AUSTRALIAN-BORN

8%

NON-RESIDENTS

78%

29%

81%

13%

AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS

ASIAN BORN

AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS

EUROPEAN

27% LOCALS (LIVE <10KM FROM INCIDENT)

DUE TO INJURY

MEDICAL-RELATED AGED 55-69 YEARS OLD

WHO

AUSTRALIAN-BORN

33%

DUE TO MEDICAL FACTOR

DUE TO INJURY

43%

MEDICAL-RELATED AGED 50-64 YEARS OLD

NOT RIP RELATED

RIP RELATED

WHY

DUE TO MEDICAL FACTOR

73%

1%

NOT RIP RELATED

RIP RELATED

33%

39%

SWIMMERS/WADERS

Section three

LOCALS (LIVE <10KM FROM INCIDENT)

37

DROWNING ANALYSIS

18% BOATERS

GLOSSARY

Adult – For the purpose of this report, adult refers to a person 16 years of age and over.

Advanced Resuscitation Techniques – A certification providing the skills and knowledge required to use specialised equipment in the provision of resuscitation in line with the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines.

ALS – Australian Lifeguard Service.

Apply First Aid – A certification providing the skills and knowledge required to provide a first aid response to a casualty.

Aquatic Fatality – refer to non-drowning related incidents which have occurred at a coastal location in the water.

Attempting a rescue – Trying to retrieve a person in distress and deliver them to a place of safety.

AWSC – Australian Water Safety Council also Australian Water Safety Conference.

AWSS – Australian Water Safety Strategy.

Bay – A body of water partially enclosed by land but with a wide mouth, affording access to the sea.

Beach – A wave-deposited accumulation of sediment –usually sand, but ranging in size up to boulders, deposited between the upper swash limit and wave base.

Blackspot – An area where incidents are concentrated and a high probability/risk of ongoing recurrence.

Boating – Using either a powered vessel or sailing boat for recreation and/or fishing.

Bystander – A person who is present at an incident but not part of it initially.

Coastal – Describes the foreshore, seabed, coastal water and air space above a large body of water (harbour/bay/inlet), including areas up to 3nm offshore and of which the landward boundary is the line of mean high water, except where that line crosses a river/inlet, the landward boundary at that point shall be the point upstream that is calculated by multiplying the width of the river/ inlet mouth by five. (Adopted from the Resource Management Amendment Act 1993 New Zealand).

COD – Cause of death.

Dangerous surf warning – An alert issued by the Bureau of Meteorology indicating that surf conditions in an area are unsafe for coastal activities. The warnings are calculated based on wave height, swell direction and swell period and must exceed the predetermined limitations to be in effect.

Drowning – The process of experiencing respiratory impairment from submersion/immersion in liquid; outcomes are classified as death, morbidity and no morbidity.

Drowning death – A fatal drowning incident arising from the process of respiratory impairment as a result of submersion/ immersion in liquid.

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

Drugs – A medicine or other substance which has a physiological effect when ingested or otherwise introduced to the body. The category includes therapeutic, over-the-counter and illicit drugs.

Emergency response – An action taken by an SLS entity in response to a call for assistance from an emergency management organisation.

Falls (trips/slips) – Events that result in a person coming to rest inadvertently on the ground or other lower level.

Fatality – A fatal incident arising from circumstances other than drowning (eg. Medical condition, injury, self-harm, marine creature).

First Aid – Assessments and interventions that can be performed by a bystander (or by the victim) with minimal to no equipment.

Fishing – The act of attempting to catch fish from anywhere except coastal rock platforms Foreign ethnicity – Describes an individual who identifies with a cultural group other than Australian based on heritage, language or shared customs. This identification is extrapolated from reported data such as the individuals’ country of birth and the main language spoken at home.

Hazard – A source of potential harm.

ILS – International Life Saving Federation.

Incident – Any unplanned event requiring lifesaving services intervention.

Inland – An area that is beyond the line of mean high water or within a landward distance of five times the width of the coastal inlet/ river mouth.

Inshore – The coastal water area within 500m of the low tide area of the foreshore.

Intentional fatality – Any intentional incident, including homicide and self-harm related incidents.

International – Describes an individual who is confirmed to reside overseas and/or is a temporary visitor to Australia.

IRB – Inflatable rescue boat.

IRD – Incident report database. A web-based portal used by SLS services to electronically record incident reports.

Jetty – An artificial structure that projects out into the water from land.

JRB – Jet rescue boat.

Jump(ing) – The activity of launching off a cliff, rock platform, pier, jetty. Aka tombstoning (UK/Europe/North America).

Lake – An inland body of water surrounded by land.

Lifeguard – An individual who undertakes patrols at a beach or another aquatic environment. He/she is typically a salaried member, qualified in public safety and aquatic rescue.

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COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

Resuscitation – Prevention or restoration of life by establishing and maintaining a person’s airway, breathing and circulation.

RIB – Rigid-hull inflatable boat.

Rip current – A seaward flowing current of water moving through a surf zone.

River – A natural stream of water flowing into an ocean, lake or other body of water.

Rock/cliff – A rock platform that may or may not have a high steep face.

Rock fishing – The act of attempting to catch fish from a coastal rock platform .

Rock shelf – A section of rock above or below the water level that projects out from the coast.

RWC – Rescue water craft.

Scuba diving – Swimming underwater with the aid of scuba equipment for recreational or commercial purposes.

Service season and hours – Vary between states due to climatic factors, but in the context of this report, the season is for the period July 2020 to June 2021.

Snorkelling – Swimming with a snorkel and face mask. Includes freediving and spearfishing.

SurfCom – SLS radio communications centre that assists in managing the communications of lifesaving operations and data collection.

Surf lifesaver – An individual who undertakes patrols at a beach or other aquatic environment. They are typically a nonsalaried member qualified in public safety and aquatic rescue.

Surf Life Saving Club – A SLS affiliated not-for-profit organisation that has volunteer members who provide coastal safety services to the community.

Swimming – Moving through water by moving the body or parts of the body.

Territorial seas – The seaward limits of Australia’s maritime zones, from the coastline to 12nm from the low tide line.

Total Service Plan – An assessment of current and future lifesaving resources, trends, national blackspots and coastal safety issues combined with evidence-based mitigation strategies to address these issues.

Toxicity – The degree to which a chemical substance or a particular mixture of substances is toxic or poisonous to an organism. In the context of this report, toxicity refers to alcohol or drug use by a victim.

Unintentional fatality – Deaths other than drowning deaths (such as medical incidents, injury, accidents, or marine creature), excluding homicide and self-harm related incidents.

Wading – Walking through water while partially immersed.

Watercraft – A piece of non-powered recreational equipment used in water. Examples include surfboards, stand-up paddle boards, bodyboards, windsurfers or kayaks.

Lifejacket – A buoyant or inflatable garment or device designed to keep a person afloat in water and increase their likelihood of survival.

Lifesaving Service – A coordinated group that exists to provide aquatic safety services to the public. This includes Surf Life Saving Clubs, Lifeguards, SurfCom, RWCs, RIBs, JRBs, ORBs, Rescue Helicopters and 4WD units.

Local Government Area (LGA) – Also known as local councils, LGAs include cities, towns, shires, municipalities or boroughs.

Marina – a man-made boat basin having sea walls or breakwaters and offering dockage and other services for water vessels.

Medical – For the purpose of this report, medical refers to an aquatic incident that was caused by a medical episode, e.g. a heart attack or epileptic seizure.

Mortality rate – A comparative rate of mortality to the size of the population for a given area or activity.

NCIS – National Coronial Information System.

NCSS – The National Coastal Safety Survey conducted annually to gather information about Australian coastal participation, swimming ability, risk perception, behaviours and attitudes to coastal safety.

Non aquatic fatality - Non-aquatic fatalities refer to non-drowning related incidents which have occurred at a coastal location but not in the water.

Non aquatic transport – Any form of transport that is not meant for the water such as airplanes, bicycles, and motor vehicles.

Ocean – The seabed, water and air space above the water between 3nm and 12nm (the Australian Territorial Sea) offshore.

Offshore – Describes the coastal water area beyond the surf zone and inshore area from 500m to 200nm.

ORB – Offshore rescue boat.

Other – An uncommon known activity not otherwise listed (e.g., paragliding, jogging).

Patrol – Service undertaken to monitor activities in/around an aquatic environment and respond accordingly through either preventative actions or rescue operations.

Patrol flags – Red and yellow horizontally divided flags which are set after performing a risk assessment to determine the most suitable area for swimming. The flags identify a zone for swimming and bodyboarding within a patrolled location.

Patrolled location – A location supervised by a lifesaving service.

Preventative action – Direct action taken to reduce or eliminate the probability of a specific rescue, first aid or other reportable incident from happening in the future.

PWC – Personal water craft, also known as a jet ski.

Rescue – The retrieval of a person in distress, delivering them to a place of safety and the application of first aid and basic life support as may be required.

Section three

39

DROWNING ANALYSIS

REFERENCES

METHODOLOGY

DROWNING AND FATALITY DATA ANALYSIS

The Surf Life Saving New South Wales Coastal Safety Report 2021 contains information on community behaviours and attitudes to the coast; SLSNSW capability and membership capacity; rescues and emergency response; and coastal and ocean drowning deaths and other coastal fatalities that occurred in New South Wales' waters from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2021. This information is correct as of 2 August 2021. All care has been taken to ensure that the statistical information included within this report is correct.

However, pending the outcome of ongoing coronial investigations and as SLSNSW update their operational information, this data may be amended. Data in figures may not always add up to 100% due to rounding. Mortality rates were calculated using the number of deaths divided by the population (per 100,000) from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

SLSA collects incident data from SurfGuard, the IRD, SurfCom, the National Coronial Information System (NCIS), and by monitoring media reports for coastal and ocean incidents. The information is then verified by SLSNSW. The following variables are used to match fatal incidents from more than one data source: incident date, location, age, gender, and incident description. The NCIS is considered the ‘gold standard’ when there is a discrepancy in the detail collected from different data sources. Incidents are excluded as a coastal drowning death if they are reported as ‘intentional deaths’, they occur at inland locations, or ‘drowning/immersion’ is not a contributory factor as noted by the coroner. Coastal incidents that are deemed intentional or not due to drowning/ immersion are logged as coastal fatalities instead. This report presents information on drowning deaths and other coastal fatalities that have occurred along the New South Wales coastline.

We analyse recent incidents that occurred between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021, as well as long-term trends in incidents that occurred between 1 July 2004 and 30 June 2021. The authors are responsible for the use made of the data in this report.

THE AUSTRALIAN COMMUNITY ANALYSIS Information about community swimming ability, behaviours and attitudes to coastal safety, risk perceptions, safety strategies and rescues was gathered from the National Coastal Safety Survey (NCSS). Conducted by Omnipoll Market Research, the latest survey was run online from 8 to 25 April 2021 with a national sample of 3,050 respondents aged 16 and above. The study was carried out in compliance with AS-ISO 20252: Market, Social and Opinion Research. To reflect the population distribution, results were postweighted (on age, gender, geographic strata, and education) and projected to Australian Bureau of Statistics data. The Australian population aged 16 and above (the reference population for this survey) is 18,712,000. This report has used summary data from New South Wales participant responses to the National Coastal Safety Survey 2021.

DROWNING DATA LIMITATIONS Over years of investigation as part of the NCIS process, some cases are amended prior to their closure, resulting in changes to the classification of cases in our datasets. Therefore, the number of coastal and ocean drowning deaths published in this report may be different from annual totals previously reported. In an effort to produce a timely report on our current year’s data we acknowledge that these figures will change. Each year, the changes that occur in the previous year’s report will be made transparent. The data in this current report are not the final figures as 63% of 2020/21 New South Wales fatal incidents (drowning deaths and coastal fatalities) remain open cases and 14% of these cases do not yet have a cause of death (COD) listed. Once NCIS closes a case, SLSA modifies those with unknown intent and those where the cause of death is not drowning, from ‘coastal or ocean drowning death’ to ‘coastal fatality’. The incidents are included in our annual totals and analysis, and they will remain so until a COD is listed other than drowning/immersion.

CAPABILITY AND INCIDENT ANALYSIS SurfGuard, the Incident Report Database (IRD), and SurfCom Management System (SurfCom) are web-based applications and part of a suite of applications that enable members, SLS Clubs, SLS Branches, SLSNSW, and SLSA to enter and access SLS operational, capability, educational, and administrative data. Information was extracted from SurfGuard to identify how many rescues were performed by surf lifesavers and lifeguards during 2020/21, and how many active surf lifesavers and award holders there were during 2020/21. Information on assets and services were also gathered.

SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES

CHANGES TO THE NUMBER OF COASTAL AND OCEAN DROWNING DEATHS FROM PREVIOUS REPORTS As part of the NCIS investigation process, some cases are amended prior to their closure and have resulted in changes to our datasets.

This year, a thorough review of the coastal and ocean drowning deaths was undertaken to update all cases to the same inclusion standards (see Table on next page).

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COASTAL SAFET Y REPORT 2021

Year 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 2018/19 2019/20 2020/21

2018 CSR

2019 CSR

2020 CSR

2021 CSR

35 35 45 29 40 37 23 48 46 29 37 53 33 39

39 40 49 33 43 45 32 49 49 29 39 56 33 36 44

40 42 48 32 43 45 32 49 49 29 41 56 33 34 43 49

40 42 48 32 43 44 32 49 48 29 41 55 33 35 42 49 45

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Surf Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving New South Wales wish to thank the following organisations and people for their contribution to the Surf Life Saving New South Wales Coastal Safety Report 2021: the Australian Government (Department of Health); National Coronial Information System (Leanne Daking and Jessica Bryan); the Department of Justice and Community Safety; Omnipoll (Frederic Anne); and SLSA major national corporate partners (DHL, Isuzu, Ampol, and Westpac).

SLSNSW also wish to thank the NSW Government through Resilience NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries, NSW Ministry of Health, and Office of Sport for funding essential coastal surveillance, public safety, and drowning prevention programs and initiatives.

In addition, SLSNSW would like to thank coastal Local Government Areas, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, and SLSNSW major partner ClubsNSW. Finally, thanks to the Surf Life Saving Clubs, Surf Life Saving Branches, Support Operations, and other emergency services in New South Wales for their efforts to prevent drowning and injury on our coastline.

SUGGESTED CITATION Surf Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving New South Wales, 2021. Surf Life Saving New South Wales Coastal Safety Report 2021. Surf Life Saving, Sydney.

This report was compiled by SLSA and SLSNSW, in particular the following: Shane Daw, General Manager Coastal Safety; Dr Jasmin Lawes, Researcher; Belinda Cooper, Project Coordinator Coastal Safety; Jessica Ledger, Research Assistant; Jamie Findlay, Lifesaving Operations Manager; Luke Strasiotto, Lifesaving Officer; and Kirk Patton, Coastal Safety Support Officer (SLSA). Nick Mulcahy, Coastal Risk and Research Manager; Chris Twine, Coastal Risk and Research Coordinator; Brent Manieri, Operations Manager Public Safety; and Donna Wishart, Communications and Engagement Manager (SLSNSW). The maps were produced by Flat Earth Mapping.

REFERENCES • Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021, Australian Demographic Population Statistics. Accessed on 28 July 2021 from: https:// stat.data.abs.gov.au/Index.aspx?DataSetCode= ERP_ QUARTERLY • SLSA National Coastal Safety Survey (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) • Newspoll/Omnipoll Online Omnibus (April 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021) • SLSA Annual Reports (2009-2021).

Design: Melissa Conchar, Graphic Designer (SLSA), Anika Martin and Elise Hancock, Senior Graphic Designer (SLSNSW).

© 2021 SURF LIFE SAVING NEW SOUTH WALES This publication is copyright. Except as expressly provided in the Copyright Act 1968 and the Copyright Amendment Act 2006, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval systems, or transmitted by any means (including electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without prior permission from Surf Life Saving New South Wales.

CONTACT INFORMATION SLSA and SLSNSW receive funding from the Australian Government and NSW Government to commence valuable initiatives and programs. However, we rely on the generosity of the community and corporate support to ensure they continue.

For enquiries concerning reproduction, contact Surf Life Saving New South Wales 02 9471 8000 or info@surflifesaving.com.au Every attempt has been made to trace and acknowledge copyright, but in some cases this may not have been possible. Surf Life Saving New South Wales apologises for any accidental infringements and would welcome any information to redress the situation.

TO HELP SURF LIFE SAVING PLEASE DONATE TO: Surf Life Saving Foundation: slsfoundation.com.au FOR MORE INFORMATION: Surf Life Saving New South Wales: surflifesaving.com.au Surf Life Saving Australia: sls.com.au

Section three

41

DROWNING ANALYSIS

C O A S TA L S A F E T Y R E P O R T N E W S O U T H WA L E S 2 02 0/21

COA S TA L A ND OCE A N DROWNING DE ATH S

45

93% 7% M A LE

22% S WIM M IN G/ WA DIN G

FE M A LE

UNINTE NTION A L COA S TA L FATA LITIE S (NOT DROWNING RE L ATE D)

19

74%

89%

MO RE TH A N 1K M FROM A S L S S E RVICE

AT THE B E ACH

S URF LIFE SAVING N S W A ND AUS TR A LI A N LIFEGUA RD S E RVICE

783

11,784

S U RF E M E RG E N C Y RE S P ON S E S YS TE M AC TIVATI O N S

FIR S T A IDS

3,768

705,898

RE S CUE S

PRE VE NTATIVE AC TIO N S

NB: Arrows indicate the direction of change from last year's statistics