City Lifeguards are preparing for another busy summer holidays with increased patrols and extended hours to ensure locals and visitors are staying safe on Gold Coast beaches.
There will be 280 lifeguards on patrol across 43 beaches from Saturday 13 December from 7:30am to 6:30pm. This is extended from 9am to 5pm at 25 beaches during non-peak times of the year.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said beachgoers were urged to always swim between the red and yellow flags and listen to advice from City lifeguards and volunteer life savers.
"Gold Coast lifeguards are some of the best in the world" Mayor Tate said.
"Last year they carried out 1858 rescues and took nearly 40,000 preventative actions to keep beachgoers safe.
"With extended patrol hours this summer, you can enjoy more time at patrolled beaches knowing you are in safe hands.
"No matter how experienced you are in the water, the only place you should be swimming is between the flags, because if our lifeguards can't see you, they can't save you.
The City recently launched a combined surf safety and water safety campaign which aims to reduce rescues and prevent drownings by promoting simple, lifesaving behaviours.
These include:
- Always swim between the red and yellow flags at patrolled beaches.
- Avoid risky behaviours around pools, rivers, and other bodies of water, including mixing alcohol with water-based activities.
- Ensure adults actively supervise children at all times around water—whether at beaches, resorts, or pools at home.
Gold Coast Chief Lifeguard Will Ashley said, "by reinforcing these behaviours we aim to protect lives and enhance the city's reputation as a safe and welcoming destination for residents and visitors alike.
"There have been 90 drownings in Queensland over the last 12 months which is a 36% increase compared to the 10-year average.
"This highlights the need for diverse ways to share our surf and water safety message."
The campaign targets the highest risk group for drowning incidents which is men between the ages of 17 and 35, as well as international visitors and new residents where English is their second language.
Emphasis is also put on parents to ensure they are always keeping an eye on their children when playing around any type of waterway.
The City's lifeguards service is the largest in Australia which protects beachgoers across 52km of beaches from Coolangatta to Main Beach and South Stradbroke Island.
