TJS Services
TJS Services is a leading national facility services provider. We deliver quality cleaning, maintenance, construction and facility management services to over 1,500 sites Australia wide. Our…
read moreTwo Australian swimmers have become the first people to be rescued in the ocean by a drone when the aerial lifesaver dropped a safety device to the distressed pair yesterday.
Having only been deployed yesterday morning (Thursday 18th January), the rescue drone was immediately put to use in a real rescue at Lennox Head on the NSW far north coast
The incident occurred when two teenage boys were seen in distress in three metre swells about a kilometre north of Lennox Head’s patrolled area.
A member of the public reported seeing the boys, and within two minutes the new drone had located the pair and dropped an inflatable flotation device to them.
The boys clung to the rescue pod and were able to swim to shore.
Surf Life Saving NSW said the boys were exhausted but unharmed.
Lifeguard Supervisor Jai Sheridan told the Gold Coast Bulletin "I was able to launch it, fly it to the location, and drop the pod all in about one to two minutes.
"On a normal day that would have taken our lifeguards a few minutes longer to reach the members of the public."
Australia is leading the use of the technology in surf lifesaving, with dozens of drones being trialled on beaches around the country.
The rescue drones were deployed at Lennox Head as part of a NSW Government backed trial on the NSW north coast.
The NSW Government announced last month it would invest $430,000 in the drone technology project.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro said that investment had paid off when the technology was used in the dramatic rescue, advising “this is a world-first rescue.
"Never before has a drone fitted with a flotation device been used to rescue swimmers like this."
Along with their ability to spot swimmers in trouble and deliver life saving devices faster than traditional lifesaving techniques, like launching surfboards or rubber dinghies, the drones are also being used in Australia to spot underwater predators like sharks and jellyfish.
Artificial intelligence is being developed using thousands of images captured by a drone camera to build an algorithm that can identify different ocean objects.
The software can differentiate between sea creatures, like sharks which it can recognise with more than 90% accuracy, compared to about 16% with the naked eye.
While some beaches in Australia have shark nets, there are moves for them to be replaced by a range of alternatives, including sonar technology and aerial patrols.
An inquiry last year that nets did not guarantee public safety any more than other deterrents but caused significant damage to marine life.
The NSW north coast trial finishes at the end of April after which Surf Life Saving NSW will then assess a wider roll-out of the project.
Image: Two young swimmers in distress cling to an inflatable flotation device dropped to them by a drone in the ocean off Lennox Head yesterday. Courtesy of Surf Life Saving NSW.
15th December 2017 - LEADING PROFESSIONAL LIFEGUARD SAYS SWIM BETWEEN FLAGS MESSAGE IS ‘DESIRABLE BUT UNREALISTIC’
14th December 2017 - SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTRALIA REVEALS 116 COASTAL DROWNING DEATHS IN 2016/17
13th December 2017 - NEW ZEALAND WATER SAFETY SECTOR SOUNDS ALARM BELLS AHEAD OF HOLIDAY PERIOD
30th June 2017 - ROYAL LIFE SAVING REPORT REVEALS NON-FATAL DROWNING INCIDENTS ARE ON THE RISE
12th January 2017 - LIFEGUARDING PROFESSIONALS ACT ON ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ NSW DROWNING TOLL WITH WATER SAFETY CAMP
6th January 2017 - BONDI RESCUE EDUCATES THE WORLD ABOUT BEACH SAFETY
28th January 2016 - LIFE SAVING LEADERS RECOGNISED BY AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS
7th January 2016 - SURF LIFE SAVING AUSTRALIA ASKS BEACHGOERS TO PLAY A ROLE IN SAFETY
27th December 2015 - PROFESSIONAL LIFEGUARDS HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR SAFETY FIRST AT THE BEACH
Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?
As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.
The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.
TJS Services is a leading national facility services provider. We deliver quality cleaning, maintenance, construction and facility management services to over 1,500 sites Australia wide. Our…
read moreGianni Mattoli Director 0412 360 378 E: gianni@mattoli.com.au E: marketing@mattioli.com.au Tony Aloi National Operations Manager 0425 762 864 E: tony@mattoli.com.au MEL · SYD · ADE…
read morePricemark supplies a wide range of custom branded membership & RFID access products for the Health & Leisure Industry.
read moreDAE Global is one of the world’s leading international creative and production practitioners, creating award-winning sport, culture and entertainment experiences for over 30 years. It was…
read moreICP is an Australian-based company focused on indoor climbing. ICP will manage your project from initial design to completion and beyond, whether you're building an international-level climbing…
read moreABOUT SPORTENG specialises in the Planning, Design and Construction inspection of Fields of Play for all sports. Blending engineering with the specialist knowledge gained from working closely with…
read morerevolutioniseSPORT is the emerging market leader in online club management in Australia. Whether it is memberships, registrations, events, online sales or governance tools - revolutioniseSPORT is the…
read moreGet your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!