Surf Life Saving WA warns swimmers to stay vigilant after spate of close-calls and drowning tragedy

The State’s peak coastal rescue organisation is pleading with swimmers to stay vigilant, after multiple close calls and a horror drowning at a tourist hot-spot north of Perth.

Surf Life Saving WA have already responded to multiple reports of swimmers caught in rips this spring, including a terrifying incident off the coast of Yanchep on Thursday.

“With the arrival of warmer weather and the school holidays, we’re seeing people heading back to the water in large numbers,” SLSWA general manager Chris Peck said on Friday.

“At this time of year on the coast, the conditions are optimal for creating high-risk situations for inexperienced beachgoers.

“Just yesterday, we were called to two incidents at Yanchep Lagoon where swimmers needed to be rescued.”

It comes just days after Tshering Penjor tragically drowned while on a family outing at Moore River, in Guilderton.

The 38-year-old father — a beloved member of WA’s Bhutanese community — fell into deep water after slipping off a sandbank along with six other family members about on Tuesday morning.

All seven were pulled from the water by bystanders, but sadly Mr Penjor could not be saved.

And on Friday, emergency services rushed to the Bunbury coast after reports a boat carrying four people had capsized near The Cut.

One person — believed to be a teenager — is fighting for life at Bunbury Regional Hospital.

The three other passengers were found safe and uninjured.

Mr Peck said SLSWA performed nearly 900 rescues last season, adding that every rescue was a “potential life saved”.

He said life savers “can’t be everywhere”, and urged people to have “appropriate swimming and water survival skills” when visiting WA waterways.

“Every one of these incidents could have ended in tragedy were it not for the actions of our life savers,” he said.

“You need to ensure that both you and your children, or friends and family members are adequately equipped to handle the conditions and to get yourselves out of trouble.

“Enrol in swimming lessons, or join our Woodside Nippers Program.”

Mr Peck said bystander rescue tragedies were also on the rise.

“While these people are making the brave decision to go to the aid of others in need, they need to assess their own abilities and the prevailing conditions before they go into the water, to ensure they are not also putting their own lives at risk,” he said.

Husband and wife Mohammad Shahidul Husan Swapan and Sabrina Ahmed died while “selflessly” trying to save their daughter at Conspicuous Beach, in Nornalup, last December.

And in January, Ricky Harris drowned at Bremer Bay while saving two children, including his own son.

The 43-year-old was holidaying when he was pulled from the water at Native Dog Beach after bravely running into the water to save two children caught in a rip.

Swimmers are urged to choose a location with active patrols and swim between the red and yellow flags.

Beachgoers are also encouraged to follow the “Stop, Look, Stay Alive” message — stop before you enter the water, look for the flags and stay alive by assessing the conditions.