Beach patrols and Woodside Nippers return to WA coastline as new data shows ‘alarming’ rise in rescues

Beachgoers are being urged to exercise caution as they return to the coast, with the resumption of patrols and nippers programs coming as alarming new figures reveal rescues hit a record high last financial year. Patrols kicked off at multiple Perth beaches at the weekend and more than 8000 children are preparing to start Woodside Nippers, which rolls out from next Sunday. Surf Life Saving WA general manager Chris Peck said conditions at this time of year were high-risk for inexperienced swimmers and lifesavers had already responded to multiple reports of swimmers caught in rips. According to SLSWA’s 2024/2025 annual report, its lifeguards and volunteer lifesavers carried out 991 rescues between May and April, a 46 per cent increase on the previous year. With more people choosing to swim at unpatrolled locations, Mr Peck said it was vital families equipped themselves with ocean safety skills. “If you’re going to go to unpatrolled beaches, you need to be prepared and ready, and the only way to do that is to get involved in programs that help you understand the ocean environment, and that is not learning to swim in a swimming pool,” he said. “If those 991 rescues weren’t at patrolled beaches, what would have happened?” Mr Peck said numbers for this year’s nippers season were likely to exceed last year’s 8421 enrolments across 31 clubs, with a number of regional clubs recording an increase of 20 per cent. Mr Peck said it wasn’t too late for families to enrol their children in nippers, who represented the next generation of lifesavers. “The nippers are able to teach the rest of their family members how to behave and respect the coastline, and what the right decisions are to make,” he said. “Getting involved early can create generational change, and it’s a great lifestyle.” State Government funding will allow 12 WA clubs to introduce an all-abilities program this season, for children with disabilities. Separate data from the City of Stirling, the only local government in WA that provides its own beach patrols every day of the year, revealed its lifeguards performed a record 1085 coastal rescues in 2024/25. This was up from 442 the previous year. City of Stirling’s Beach Services team leader John Snook said the rise was due in part to declining swimming skills. “There’s a lot of people coming down who just don’t have any idea about the beach, that is alarming to us,” he said. Mr Snook said the City had introduced initiatives to improve ocean safety, including a Pool to Beach program at Scarborough starting in January which will educate participants on rips, tides, waves and surf survival skills.