Volunteer lifesavers are preparing to return to Gold Coast beaches this weekend for the start of the busy patrol season.
Their return coincides with the start of school holidays, with thousands of people expected to flock to beaches.
Around 3,500 volunteers will be back on patrol on Gold Coast beaches from Southport to Rainbow Bay.
They’ll be keeping a close eye on beaches on weekends and public holidays between 8am and 5pm, complementing the year-round job done by city lifeguards.
Warmer weather is also expected to entice people to the coastline this weekend, with temps hitting 28 degrees on Saturday.
“Great weather, so we’re expecting a big start to the season, and lifesavers in the winter months have been training and getting ready, so we’re ready for it,” SLSQ Gold Coast Operations Manager Nathan Fife said.
The last patrol season was a busy one for Gold Coast lifesavers, who performed 748 rescues.
That was up 46.9 per cent on the previous season.
Lifesavers also conducted 48,214 preventative actions and 3,245 first aid treatments.
“Unfortunately, there are still a lot of people not swimming at patrolled beaches or between those red and yellow flags. Most of these rescues are only happening 100 metres outside those flags so we’re just encouraging people, please, if you head to the beach, swim between those flags,” Fife said.
