Westpac Rescue Helicopter drops in for beach safety lesson

More than 360 students at Marmion Primary School had an extra special session about beach safety on Wednesday, welcoming the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and its crew to their school oval!

Surf Life Saving WA’s Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service provides a free and vital community service to West Australians, carrying out search and rescue missions, beach patrols and aerial surveillance along the West Australian coastline, operating from its bases at Fremantle and Busselton.

Suzi Hullick, Westpac State General Manager, says students heard first-hand from the crew who dedicate their lives to helping others in the community when they need it most.

“Westpac is proud to support the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service and help educate our young West Australians about emergency services in their local community.

“Bringing the Westpac chopper to Marmion Primary School, the crew provided important safety tips and advice on how students can avoid getting into danger at local beaches and stay safe during an emergency.

“The session was great fun and interactive, as students watched the helicopter land on the oval, then asked the crew and pilot questions about flying, rescues, and beach patrols.

“They also saw the state-of-the-art lifesaving equipment designed to help the crew deal with emergency situations,” Suzi said.

Timothy Gleeson, Surf Life Saving WA Helicopter Services Coordinator, says it’s very rewarding to work in a role that helps keep West Australians safe at the beach.

“Delivering important water safety messages is what today is all about. The kids often have many questions for us and are thrilled to see the helicopter land and take off at their school.

“It’s great to be able to help educate these children about how to stay safe when visiting the beach, what to do during an emergency, and the important role of the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and emergency services within the community.”

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service patrols from September until April, patrolling from Mandurah to Yanchep and east to Rottnest Island and between Bunbury and Hamelin Bay in the southwest.

A busy 2023/24 season saw the Service carry out 741 patrols, 27 search and rescue missions, and instigate 86 beach closures across nearly 1,000 hours of flying time.