Safety & Rescue

SLSWA APPEAL TO PUBLIC: Help us keep you safe this summer. Please swim at a patrolled location.

The ocean can be a dangerous place. Nationally, there were 141 beach-related drownings last season, and 100% of these occurred where no patrols were present. Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) is appealing to the public to help them keep you safe this summer – please swim at a patrolled location.

Risky behaviours called out at abalone fishing

With 15 rescues performed by lifesaving services at the opening session of the 2024/25 abalone fishing season on 14 December 2024, Surf Life Saving WA (SLSWA) is calling out risky behaviours that put fishers in danger. Surf Life Saving WA Lifesaving Services Manager Cam Robbins said that of those rescues…

Safety a priority as abalone season opens

With the first session of the 2024/25 South West Zone abalone fishing season confirmed to go ahead this Saturday, Surf Life Saving WA is calling on fishers to prioritise their safety, with last season experiencing a massive surge in incidents. While ocean conditions for this first session have been assessed…

Emergency taskings kick off busy week for Heli service

It was a busy time for our North Fremantle-based Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service (WLRHS) last week, with the crew tasked to attend multiple Search and Rescue operations in addition to their regular daily patrols. With a 21-metre yacht catching fire off Cottesloe (opens…

Beachgoers urged to Stop, Look, Stay Alive, with summer around the corner

With summer only one day away and rising temperatures likely to see more and more West Australians heading to the beach to cool off, Surf Life Saving WA is reminding beachgoers to take the necessary precautions for an enjoyable day out. Data from the 2024 National Coastal Safety Report shows…

Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service lands important message among young Aussies to stay safe this season

For more than 51 years, the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service has been keeping Australians safe along our coastlines, waterways and mountain regions through to the bush. Ahead of another unpredictable summer season, Westpac and the Service are encouraging Aussies to plan ahead and put safety first when enjoying the…

Westpac Rescue Helicopter drops in for beach safety lesson

More than 360 students at Marmion Primary School had an extra special session about beach safety on Wednesday, welcoming the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter and its crew to their school oval! Surf Life Saving WA’s Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service provides a free and vital community service to…

Beach helicopter patrols return ahead of summer

Surf Life Saving WA’s (SLSWA) Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service will return to the West Australian coastline today, guarding over beachgoers until April 2025. Last season, between September 2023 and April 2024, the helicopters flew nearly 1,000 hours across 741 patrols over metropolitan and south west beaches. Surf Life…