Closing the Season With Thanks to Our Lifesavers

The 2025/26 summer patrol season has officially ended across Victoria, and the flags are coming down and end a year with fewer fatal drownings than recent record years. 

Between November and April, volunteer lifesavers and paid lifeguards watched over our beaches to help keep Victorians safe in and around the water. 

This season, lifesavers carried out 631 rescues and gave first aid 1,465 times. These numbers reflect thousands of patrol hours from dedicated volunteers and professional lifeguards who give their time and skills to protect our community. 

Even with these lifesaving efforts, there were still 25 fatal drownings across coastal, inland, and home settings. This shows how important it is to stay safe around water all year. 

Now that patrols have ended, help may be further away. Added to this, cooler weather often increases the risk of slips, trips, and falls near water, especially around rock platforms, riverbanks, and other wet or unstable places. Accidental falls into water are still a leading cause of drowning in autumn and winter.

Thank you to all our lifesavers for an outstanding season. As patrols end, always stay vigilant around water. Check conditions, read and obey safety signs, wear a lifejacket when boating or rock fishing, and actively intervene if you see unsafe behaviour. Your decisions can save lives, yours, and others. 

Patrol season is over, but staying safe around water is important all year. Make smart choices, stay alert, put safety first, and look out for others whenever you are near water.