Handler Guy Sadler and English Springer Spaniel, Buddy who is trained to locate people underwater.
As winter slips away and the warmer weather beckons, the Royal Australian Life Saving Society has issued an urgent warning.
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The latest National Drowning report, released last week, reveals Australia has just recorded the highest number of drowning deaths since records began.
There were 357 drowning deaths over the past 12 months, a 27 per cent increase on the 10-year average.
Of those, 34 per cent were in inland waterways, including 99 drownings in rivers.
In January this year alone, three people drowned in the Murray River.
The unprecedented figures have prompted the warning that half of all Australian children now leave primary school unable to swim 50 metres or float for two minutes.
In December 2022, 16-year-old Jack Bird and his friend James Doyle were fishing in Lake Mulwala when both boys were thrown from their boat in choppy waters.
Both boys had full boat licenses, but neither was wearing a life jacket despite having five on board.
James was rescued, but Jack lost this life that day.
After the tragedy, Victorian State Coroner Judge John Cain recommended the NSW Government mandate wearing life jackets while a boat was in operation.
“I cannot now determine that a life jacket would have prevented Jack’s death; however, if he was wearing a life jacket, he may have been able to remain above the water long enough to be rescued,” Judge Cain said.
Wearing a life jacket is one of the biggest messages in river safety.
In New South Wales over the past 12 months, 129 people have drowned; a 29 per cent increase on the 10-year average.
More than a third of those were in rivers and creeks.
In Victoria, 52 deaths represented an eight per cent increase on the 10-year average with one third occurring in rivers and lakes.
NSW Southern Regions operation manager, Paul Marshall said Corowa Rescue Squad’s members were all trained in water rescue and boat operations and worked by closely with Police Rescue.
He said four lives had been tragically lost in the Southern Region last season.
“Time and time again, it’s usually males aged 18-15 doing silly things, and maybe with alcohol on board” Mr Marshall said.
“Lives lost in the river usually come down to people not understanding their own limitations.
“You may be able to swim 400m no problem, but the river is a different beast.
“There’s currents and snags, and eddies can form pushing water back upstream.”
Stay safe in the river and lake
• Let someone know if you are going for a river float.
• Take your phone is a watertight container
• Don’t swim alone
• Avoid drugs and alcohol when boating and swimming
• Wear a lifejacket when boating.
• Always supervise children around water
• Learn swimming, water safety and lifesaving skills
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