In the first of our summer safety series looking at the island's most dangerous beaches, we visit Surf Beach and speak with locals and emergency services.
Last summer, six people tragically lost their lives at beaches across the Bass Coast, as drowning figures across the country continue to rise.
This summer, the Advertiser's summer safety series highlights some of the island's most dangerous beaches for visitors and anyone not familiar with local conditions.
This week, we speak to locals and emergency services about Surf Beach.
According to the 2024 National Coastal Safety Report prepared by Surf Lifesaving Australia, Bass Coast is designated as a 'local government area blackspot' for drownings.
The Mornington Peninsula Shire, which saw eight drownings over the 2023/24 season was the only LGA in Victoria with more drownings than Bass Coast.
Of the six drownings which occurred in Bass Coast, five were on Phillip Island, including four people who died at Forrest Caves in what was the worst incidence of mass drowning in the state in nearly two decades.
The fifth drowning occurred on January 12 at Surf Beach. Tommy Williams, an island local and experienced former lifesaver, was one of several members of the public who responded on the day.
"It was a classic beach day," Tommy said, estimating there were between 100 to 150 people at Surf Beach, spread across the stretch of beach between Surfies Point and Dunvegan Crescent.
"I remember it being pretty warm, a really nice day, offshore winds and stuff."
Tommy was swimming with two friends at the popular unpatrolled beach when they heard screaming. Tommy's friend and another member of the public retrieved the man from the water, before commencing CPR on the beach for approximately 45 minutes. Sadly, the man lost his life at the scene.
Tommy, who last summer would swim at the beach on a daily basis, said the conditions at Surf Beach are "ever-changing".
"There's always rips popping up, troughs and gutters. Every day we go down, it's different to the day before. So I mean it's just unpredictable," Tommy said.
"It doesn't really even matter if you're a confident swimmer. People just don't think it's going to happen to them. It can happen to anyone."
Accessibility
Phil Friedlos is the unit controller of the Phillip Island SES, one of the emergency services which responded to the incident at Surf Beach in January.
Phil said that along with unpredictable and dangerous conditions, accessibility is also a serious factor for first responders when it comes to incidents on unpatrolled beaches.
At patrolled beaches such as Woolamai and Smiths Beach, first responders have the option to use the ramps when people need to be taken from the beach.
At beaches like Surf Beach and Forrest Caves, the long staircases which lead to the shoreline, along with how far people stray from access points, adds an extra layer of complexity when it comes to rescues.
"Certainly at Surf Beach there's a lot of steps," Phil said.
"At Forrest Caves, it's maybe a bit less but it feels like they're a bit steeper. Whereas at Woolamai or Smiths we've at least got the choice of ramps if we want to use them.
"Obviously, one of the challenges we always have is the accessibility of beaches, and then there's the distance people are from the access points."
When responding to the January rescue at Surf Beach and in other similar scenarios, the SES use what is called a "mule" — a large, one-wheeled contraption with a stretcher on top which can transport patients over sand and rocky terrain.
Phil said the mule has "proven to be a very useful piece of equipment," allowing the SES team to safely and effectively transport patients they would have otherwise had to carry.
Listen to locals
Aaron Coffey is a Surf Beach resident and regular surfer on the island, who saw the January rescue from the cliffs overlooking the beach.
Living across the road from the access to Surfies Point, Aaron regularly provides advice about beach conditions and specific safety concerns to visitors and less-experienced beach-farers.
Aaron explained there is "pretty much always" a rip just to the east side of Surfies Point, which sweeps out towards Cape Woolamai. The bigger the swell and stormier the conditions, explained the surfer, the bigger that rip is.
"Then the rest of the beach is a bit transient," said Aaron.
"It's always changing."
Aaron said it is never a problem or concern for him when he provides safety advice to other beachgoers.
"Sometimes when that rip's really pulling and there's a family walking down looking a bit lost, you just walk past and say 'you'd be better off here'.
"It's no skin off my nose and they're usually appreciative. It's not like you're telling them off.
"On heavy days, even if a surfer says, 'what do you think? Is it worth going out?' and they usually surf at Smiths, you say 'I probably wouldn't recommend it today'."
Leading into summer, President of Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club Jason Close urged recreational swimmers to make their way to a patrolled beach. "If we can't see you, we can't save you," said Jason.
From now until Sunday February 16, Woolamai Beach and Smiths Beach will be patrolled every day.
During the Christmas school holiday period, Saturday December 21 through to Sunday February 2, Cowes Beach will also be patrolled (other than Christmas Day).
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