Safety & Rescue

Tragic week on WA coast prompts warning from Surf Life Saving

After a tragic week on the West Australian coast, with a number of fatalities and a search still underway for a young male who went missing off Scarborough on Monday evening, Surf Life Saving WA is imploring beachgoers to exercise caution when heading to the beach this summer. “We know…

Summer safety set to take off

Beach safety measures in our south-west will kick up a notch next week as Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) aerial and beach patrols ramp up ahead of what’s expected to be a busier than usual summer season. Currently conducting patrols on weekends only, SLSWA’s south-west based Westpac Life Saver Rescue…

Twelve finalists to represent WA at 2020 SLSA Awards of Excellence

Twelve category winners from the 2020 Surf Life Saving WA Awards of Excellence will proudly represent WA as part of Surf Life Saving Australia’s virtual Awards of Excellence. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s National Awards will be celebrated on Saturday, 7 November via a live, online event, consisting of…

Local Lifesavers upskill to make our beaches safer

Local surf lifesavers have increased capability to keep beachgoers safe this summer as local members recently participated in an intensive 6-day jet ski course delivered by Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA). Over 6 days, from 29 September – 4 October, participants from Busselton, City of Bunbury and Dalyellup Beach Surf…

Increase in south west beach clearances due to sharks

At the close of the school holidays, as Surf Life Saving WA’s south west based Westpac Helicopter moved from daily to weekend patrols yesterday afternoon, the service reported a more than 65% increase in swimmers and surfers being cleared from the water due to the presence of sharks. Over the…

Carcass attracts predators

Following a public report of a whale carcass located some 500m off Peppermint Grove Beach, south of Bunbury, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) requested assistance from Surf Life Saving WA’s Westpac Helicopter to locate the carcass. “Given the propensity for these carcasses to attract sharks, being…

Wesfarmers Jet Ski Team members recognised at Australian Search and Rescue Awards

Earlier this week, two of Surf Life Saving WA’s Wesfarmers Emergency Response Team (WERT) members were recognised in the prestigious Australian Search & Rescue Awards for their outstanding contributions to search and rescue within the Australian region. David Macmahon and Jacob Oversby, both members of the Esperance Surf Life Saving…

Surf Life Saving bracing for busy beaches as heli services return to the skies

Surf Life Saving WA’s (SLSWA) state government funded Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters will return to the skies this Saturday, 5 September as SLSWA predict an increase in beachgoers due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. “When COVID-19 restrictions were first introduced in March, we saw people flock to our beaches as…