Daily beach report
North Coast lifeguard co-ordinator Stephen Leahy’s daily beach report:
Not too bad a morning but, as predicted, it began to cloud over by lunch time. The winds certainly increased in strength and waves have picked up. There’s a lot of storm activity on the radar but it is yet to hit the coast. Here’s what happened on lifeguard patrolled beaches in Ballina Shire today:
Lennox Head: The change in the weather quietened things down this afternoon. Shortly after 4pm Lifeguard Anthony had to warn a young man about riding his mini-bike on Lennox Beach. There were four preventative actions carried out today.
Shelly Beach, Ballina: The beach was closed for an hour late this morning after a positive sighting of a shark. Notwithstanding that, Lifeguard Ruben was busy throughout the day, warning 51 people who were swimming in dangerous locations.
Tomorrow’s Forecast: Cloudy with rain periods. Isolated thunderstorms, mainly during the afternoon/evening. Humid with light to moderate north to north-east winds, freshening along the coast.
Today’s Water Safety Tip: Whilst it is not encouraged to swim at a beach where there are no lifeguards on duty, if you find yourself at an unpatrolled beach there are some simple rules. Don’t swim on your own – always swim with a friend who can help you or call for help. Spend some time and watch the surf conditions. Don’t run into the water so you don’t fall in a gutter or hole or trip over any submerged rocks. Be cautious in your decision making and put yourself at risk.
