A CLOSE call at Port Macquarie’s Town Beach has prompted another call for local residents and visitors to the region to only swim at patrolled beaches – and only when the flags are in place.
Port Macquarie-Hastings Council senior lifeguard Grant Hudson said a visitor was assisted from the surf at Town Beach shortly after 8am Monday morning by a female swimmer and a young surfer.
It is believed the male swimmer may have been caught in a rip. He was exhausted after his ordeal, but did not require any further medical attention.
Mr Hudson said the incident served as a reminder for people to only swim at patrolled beaches and only when there are paid council lifeguards or volunteer surf lifesavers on duty.
Town Beach is patrolled seven days a week by council lifeguards between the hours of 9am and 4.30pm. Council lifeguards also patrol Flynns Beach Monday to Friday 9am-4.30pm while volunteer surf lifesavers are on duty on weekends and on public holidays.
Volunteer lifesavers also patrol Lighthouse Beach, Rainbow Beach at Bonny Hills and at North Haven Beach on weekends and public holidays. Patrol times may vary from beach to beach.
Mr Hudson said it was important for people to remember council’s key beach safety message, ‘No flags, no swim’, even though summer was now officially over.
“The crowds might be gone, but the rip currents are still there,” he said.
Monday’s incident follows a near drowning at Port Macquarie’s Lighthouse Beach late last month after a 23-year-old became caught in a rip while swimming with friends shortly after midday.
The woman was assisted from the water by a surfer and a volunteer from the Tacking Point Surf Life Saving Club, Tiana Rickwood, and was later treated at Port Macquarie Base Hospital. Tiana is also employed by council as one of its professional lifeguards.
