This was published 7 years ago
Lifesavers rescue 14 swimmers from rips in SEQ ahead of busy beach weekend
By Rachel Clun
More than a dozen swimmers have been rescued from south-east Queensland beaches in a busy morning for surf lifesavers.
Five people were rescued at Stradbroke Island, five from Cylinder Beach and four at Maroochydore – all before 1pm on Thursday, according to Surf Life Saving Queensland.
These rescues could have been avoided if beach goers had remained swimming between the flags, SLSQ said.
Swimmers were rescued via jet ski, with one spotted in distress by a vigilant lifeguard within a kilometre of the lifesaving flags.
These rescues could have been avoided if beach goers had remained swimming between the flags, SLSQ lifesaving operations co-ordinator Jason Argent said.
"The people have been swimming all outside the flags and all within rips," he said.
"Rips aren't in between the flags, basically we're asking swimmers to be more cautious about where they swim."
Mr Argent said rips were more prevalent when the surf was big and when the tide changed.
"Rips are very common at most locations across the Queensland coast, especially the south-east corner," he said.
With coastal beaches expected to be busy as holidaymakers headed to the coast, Mr Argent said a team of volunteers would be backing up the lifeguards from Saturday to Tuesday.
"We're encouraging people to head towards the patrolled locations," he said.
"With one-metre, one-and-a-half metre swells it's a good time to swim between the flags."