Water warning

Sadly, San Remo and Phillip Island are known as blackspots for drowning in Victoria.

At the start of 2020, a fisherman was killed, washed off the notoriously dangerous rocks at Punchbowl Road in San Remo, the second death in three months.

Since 2000 there have been six deaths of anglers at Punchbowl, which represents a third of all rock fishing deaths in Victoria in the last two decades.

Our ocean beaches have claimed at least seven lives since January 2016.

Every summer, authorities urge beach-goers not to become another drowning statistic.

Despite the safety advice, about 55 people are rescued from Cape Woolamai annually, not including numerous people saved by surfers that go unreported.

Ocean beaches and even bay beaches have hidden dangers such as rip currents, which is why it is important to always swim between the flags and check beachsafe.org.au to find patrolled beaches and safety information.

Life Saving Victoria research shows three-quarters of people can’t identify a rip – a fast-flowing current where water flows back out to sea – while two thirds who think they can spot a rip, can’t.

If you chose the flat and calm water, in between the breaking whitewash waves, then you could find yourself in danger of being carried out in a rip.

If you are caught in a rip, DO NOT PANIC. A rip current does not drag you underwater. Rip currents only pull you away from the shore or even parallel.

Stay calm, conserve your energy and consider these options:

• Raise an arm and call out to seek help.
• Float with the current. It may return you to a shallow sandbank.
• Swim parallel to the beach. You may escape the rip current.
• Reassess the situation – if what you’re doing isn’t working, try another option until you return to shore.
• Whenever possible, swim between the red and yellow flags.

Videos explaining rip currents are available on beachsafe.org.au in multiple languages.

If you are unsure where to swim, go to beachsafe.org.au/ or download the BeachSafe App.