Safety & Rescue

Lifesavers on edge ahead of final abalone session

With the fourth and final session of this year’s West Coast Zone abalone fishing season confirmed to go ahead this Saturday, surf lifesavers are bracing for what they expect to be another busy hour of fishing to wrap up the season. Over the past three sessions, lifesavers have performed 108…

Stop, Look and Stay Alive: Lifesavers warn against complacency.

With the third session of the 2024/25 South West Zone abalone fishing season confirmed to go ahead this Saturday, and as WA continues to see a rise in coastal drowning fatalities, Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) is warning abalone fishers that without proper consideration for their safety, they could easily…

Lifesavers plead for beachgoers to make sensible decisions when it comes to beach safety

Last weekend, surf lifesavers on West Australian beaches performed 222 rescues, a massive 1,608% increase on the same weekend last year. Research shows that the coastal drowning risk is more than four times greater on a summer public holiday. In the lead-up to the Australia Day long weekend, Surf Life…

SLSWA APPEAL TO PUBLIC: Help us keep you safe this summer. Please swim at a patrolled location.

The ocean can be a dangerous place. Nationally, there were 141 beach-related drownings last season, and 100% of these occurred where no patrols were present. Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) is appealing to the public to help them keep you safe this summer – please swim at a patrolled location.

Risky behaviours called out at abalone fishing

With 15 rescues performed by lifesaving services at the opening session of the 2024/25 abalone fishing season on 14 December 2024, Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) is calling out risky behaviours that put fishers in danger. Surf Life Saving WA Lifesaving Services Manager Cam Robbins said that of those rescues…

Safety a priority as abalone season opens

With the first session of the 2024/25 South West Zone abalone fishing season confirmed to go ahead this Saturday, Surf Life Saving WA is calling on fishers to prioritise their safety, with last season experiencing a massive surge in incidents. While ocean conditions for this first session have been assessed…

Emergency taskings kick off busy week for Heli service

It was a busy time for our North Fremantle-based Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service (WLRHS) last week, with the crew tasked to attend multiple Search and Rescue operations in addition to their regular daily patrols. With a 21-metre yacht catching fire off Cottesloe (opens…

Beachgoers urged to Stop, Look, Stay Alive, with summer around the corner

With summer only one day away and rising temperatures likely to see more and more West Australians heading to the beach to cool off, Surf Life Saving WA is reminding beachgoers to take the necessary precautions for an enjoyable day out. Data from the 2024 National Coastal Safety Report shows…