Beach patrols start

Press, 20 December 1988, Page 1

Beach patrols start

By

PAM MORTON

Paid lifeguard patrols began on Christchurch beaches yesterday and will continue until January 29.

Eighteen lifeguards have been selected to patrol the 10 beaches from Taylors Mistake to Waikuku. The co-ordinator of the lifeguard programme for the Canterbury Surf Life-Saving Association, Mr Geoff Barry, said the association had a particularly strong team with most of the lifeguards having between two and eight years experience.

About 40 people applied for the 18 positions. Mr Barry said the beaches would be patrolled by paid lifeguards on weekdays, and clubs would patrol their own beaches during the week-ends. Voluntary club patrols began on the beaches in mid-November. Most beaches will be staffed by two paid lifeguards from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. On beaches where there is only one guard it will be watched from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Taylors Mistake and Sumner, both difficult swimming beaches, will be staffed by two guards during the weekdays. About 43 rescues were made by professional guards last year, a higher than average number, Mr Barry said.

He said the increasing number of pleasure craft being used off the beaches was a concern, as were people swimming after consuming large amounts of alcohol and food.