Lifeguards reflect on busy season

Surf skis have been washed, whistles stowed and binoculars packed at the conclusion of another demanding season for lifeguards on Cable Beach.

Surf Life Saving WA lifeguard patrols wrapped up on Broome’s Cable Beach on October 29 after a season of 9am to 4.30pm watch days since April 14.

During their patrols, 171,160 people attended the beach, guards rescued seven people, warned 1659 beachgoers of rips, rocks and other hazards, attended 255 minor first aid incidents and one major incident.

Lifeguard captain Wade Clark said the lifeguards were now heading south or finding work in town after a busy season on the beach.

“It’s been pretty good, we are up (in numbers) from last year in first aid incidents and attendance — the team has been awesome,” he said.

“We’ve had one irukandji sting on April 21, that was our major first aid incident.

“There was a lot of odd questions (from swimmers), the oddest would have been ‘how do you see sharks or crocodiles?’ or ‘is the tide coming in or out?’ — that’s usually a pretty big question.

“I’ve got a job for the wet in landscaping and maintenance, usually I would go down south but I wanted to stay up here for the wet season.”

Shire of Broome acting manager sport and recreation Mike Doyle said the Shire had received positive feedback from the community and thanked Broome Surf Life Saving Club volunteers who assisted the lifeguards by running patrols on Sundays.