Daily beach report
Northern New South Wales lifeguard co-ordinator Stephen Leahy reports on a wild day on the coast …
The northern NSW coast was pounded by dangerous surf throughout the day, resulting in most beaches being closed.
Waves up to three metres were typical along the more exposed beaches. Exceptionally high tides, along with the surf, led to incredible surges and beach erosion. Dangerous currents and rips were extensive along the coast and, despite the conditions, many people still ventured into the water. Lifeguards reported a lot of debris being washed up as a result of the huge surf.
Dangerous conditions will persist for the next 24 hours and there is a strong wind warning current for the region.
INCIDENTS:
People heeded the warnings, resulting in only three rescues along the coast – two of these were at Cudgen in the Tweed Shire and there was a rescue of a female at Hat Head who had to be stabilised in deep water due to a dislocated collar bone before being brought back to shore by lifeguards.
Nevertheless, there were 680 preventative actions, the majority of these were warnings to people swimming in dangerous locations, away from patrolled beaches.
Byron Shire lifeguards were kept busy at Main Beach. Shortly after 1.30 pm, a 21-year-old male presented himself to lifeguards with a dislocated knee after he was injured in the surf; was treated and sent to Byron Hospital.
At 3pm a 24-year-old male dislocated his shoulder. He was stabilised by lifeguards before he was transported to Byron Hospital by ambulance. Finally, shortly before 5pm, a male in his mid-20s was treated for a dislocated right shoulder and transported by ambulance to Byron hospital.
Tomorrow’s Forecast:
Cloudy periods with isolated showers, chiefly coastal. Moderate south to south-east winds, fresh on the coast. Dangerous surf conditions. Expected maximum of 27 degrees.
