Latest news with #RoyalLifeSavingSocietyWA
Perth Now
02-07-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
‘The reality is that accidents happen quickly and quietly.'
Artificial intelligence monitoring a public pool has triggered a potentially lifesaving alert as a swimmer began to sink, unconscious, to the bottom of the water. The incident was caught on camera at Stirling Leisure in the northern Perth suburb of Inglewood, with the AI detecting the medical emergency immediately. Lifeguards were sent an urgent alert at the same time fellow swimmer Ofer Lefelman noticed something was wrong. 'When I realised he's in distress, I dove down, picked him up, put him on my shoulder, made sure his head was above the water,' he told 7NEWS. Lifeguards then helped get the struggling swimmer to the water's edge, where further help was waiting. 'They were very quick, very fast, they grabbed all the gear we needed,' lifeguard Cameron told 7NEWS. He believed it would have been 'a lot more stressful if I didn't have that initial alert'. 'That precious amount of seconds with the watch possibly saved him,' he said. The Lynxight system is a critical set of eyes operated by the City of Stirling to keep watch over the pool and swimmers. It is able to pinpoint a person in distress and send an alert via a smart watch with an exact GPS co-ordination. Lynxight can connect to standard security cameras, detect unusual water movement and track multiple swimmers at once. The Lynxight pool monitoring system triggered a potentially lifesaving alert at a pool in Perth. Credit: 7NEWS More than 300 people drown in Australia every year, and there were six drowning deaths and 8000 rescues at public pools in 2023 alone, Royal Life Saving Australia research shows. The AI technology is also used at Gould Adams Park Aquatic Centre in Queensland but it is hoped it will be rolled out at more pools across the country and help to save more lives. Royal Life Saving Society WA chief executive Peter Leaversuch said lifeguards have a challenging job watching lots of people in the water. 'The reality is that accidents happen quickly and quietly,' he said. 'To have a bit of technology that's watching is really powerful for not only the public but also the lifeguards.'
7NEWS
30-06-2025
- Health
- 7NEWS
AI pool monitoring system helps save life of swimmer suffering medical episode in the water
Artificial intelligence monitoring a public pool has triggered a potentially life-saving alert as a swimmer began to sink, unconscious, to the bottom of the water. The incident was caught on camera at Stirling Leisure in the northern Perth suburb of Inglewood, with the AI detecting the medical episode emergency immediately. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Incredible AI helps save swimmer in trouble at Perth pool. Lifeguards were sent an urgent alert at the same time fellow swimmer Ofer Lefelman noticed something was wrong. 'When I realised he's in distress, I dove down, picked him up, put him on my shoulder, made sure his head was above the water,' he told 7NEWS. Lifeguards then helped get the struggling swimmer to the water's edge, where further help was waiting. 'They were very quick, very fast, they grabbed all the gear we needed,' lifeguard Cameron told 7NEWS. He believed it would have been 'a lot more stressful if I didn't have that initial alert'. 'That precious amount of seconds with the watch possibly saved him,' he said. The Lynxight system is a critical set of eyes operated by the City of Stirling to keep watch over the pool and swimmers. It is able to pinpoint a person in distress and send an alert via a smart watch with an exact GPS co-ordination. Lynxight can connect to standard security cameras, detect unusual water movement and track multiple swimmers at once. More than 300 people drown in Australia every year, and there were six drowning deaths and 8000 rescues at public pools in 2023 alone, Royal Life Saving Australia research shows. The AI technology is also used at Gould Adams Park Aquatic Centre in Queensland but it is hoped it will be rolled out at more pools across the country and help to save more lives. Royal Life Saving Society WA chief executive Peter Leaversuch said lifeguards have a challenging job watching lots of people in the water. 'The reality is that accidents happen quickly and quietly,' he said. 'To have a bit of technology that's watching is really powerful for not only the public but also the lifeguards.' Stream free on
Perth Now
30-06-2025
- Health
- Perth Now
WATCH: AI helps save swimmer in trouble at Perth pool
Incredible artificial intelligence that watches over swimmers at a Perth pool has potentially helped save a life after alerting lifeguards to a man in danger. CCTV footage shows the moment a lap in the pool at Stirling Leisure in Inglewood became a fight for life. The swimmer suffers a medical episode and sinks below the surface. It is silent, but watching over the pool is amazing AI technology, which immediately detects the danger, sending lifeguards an urgent alert. At the same time, a fellow swimmer spots the swimmer in trouble, realising something is wrong. The footage shows fellow swimmer Ofer Lefelman diving to pull him out, as a lifeguard leaps into action. 'When I realised he's in distress, I dove down, picked him up, put him on my shoulder, made sure his head was above the water,' Mr Lefelman said. Ofer Lefelman witnessed the frightening incident. Credit: 7NEWS / 7NEWS A rescue team was on standby when the man was pulled out of the water. Lifeguard Cameron said as soon as he got an alert on his watch, he was able to see who was in trouble and where. 'That precious number of seconds, with the watch.. Possibly saved him,' he said. 'They were very quick - very fast, they grabbed all the gear we needed. 'I think it would have been a lot more stressful if I didn't have that initial alert.' The AI lifeguard is a critical set of eyes on the pool, with swimmers tracked by CCTV. The Lynxight system operated by the City of Stirling is able to pinpoint a person in distress, even if human lifeguards don't. Lynxight AI aquatic safety technology at Stirling Leisure in Inglewood. Credit: 7NEWS / 7NEWS It sends an alert to human lifeguards via a smartwatch with an exact GPS coordination. Royal Life Saving Society WA chief executive Peter Leaversuch said in drowning incidents, 'things can get critical very quickly'. 'This AI technology is just a fantastic tool that helps lifeguards to response quicker, and also its watching all the time,' he said.
7NEWS
24-04-2025
- 7NEWS
Lucky Bay search: Search for missing man enters second day, comes as man drowns in Shark Bay
An urgent ocean search for a missing Perth man near Kalbarri is continuing for a second day after he was swept into the depths while body surfing. Police received a triple-0 call after the man, 19, became distressed in waters off Lucky Bay in Yallabatharra about 3.20pm on Tuesday. A police spokeswoman said water police were conducting a search of the coastline on Wednesday afternoon, which is about 30km south of Kalbarri. 'Currently, jet skis are searching in the ocean, ATVs are searching along the beach and a local plane is conducting an aerial search,' she said. Police said the man was 'with a friend body surfing when he got swept away'. The water search was halted on Tuesday night before it recommended at first light on Wednesday. It is understood the 19-year-old is from the Perth metropolitan area. The desperate search comes after a 73-year-old man drowned in Shark Bay on Easter Sunday. St John WA paramedics desperately tried to save the elderly man after he was pulled from waters about 12.30pm. Police said he could not be revived. A report into his death is being prepared for the coroner. Royal Life Saving Society WA chief executive Peter Leaversuch told The West Australian he was 'deeply saddened' by the latest water incidents. 'These incidents, along with the alarming number of drowning deaths recorded nationally over the Easter long weekend, highlight the urgent need for water safety to remain a priority for everyone,' he said. 'They are a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong around the water — whether at the beach, river or backyard pool. No matter your age or swimming ability, water safety must always be front of mind. 'We urge everyone to take simple precautions to keep themselves, their families and their friends safe around the water: wear a life jackets, supervise children and avoid swimming alone. These actions can and will save lives.' Mr Leaversuch said 'broader support and investment' was needed to ensure everyone could develop swim skills. 'We can't always rely on someone being there to help, which is why personal ability in the water matters so much,' he said. 'Teaching people to swim and survive is a vital part of building personal resilience and community safety.' Six people drowned in NSW over the Easter holiday period, including a nine-year-old boy who became stuck between rocks near the shoreline of South West Rocks on Sunday. And in Victoria, a man drowned after being swept off rocks at a beach about 125km south east of Melbourne on Friday morning. The man's wife and friend were also swept into the water, but managed to survive.
Perth Now
23-04-2025
- Perth Now
Perth man goes missing while body surfing at popular beach
A urgent ocean search for a missing Perth man near Kalbarri is continuing for a second day after he was swept into the depths while body surfing. Police received a triple-0 call after the man, 19, became distressed in waters off Lucky Bay in Yallabatharra about 3.20pm on Tuesday. A police spokeswoman said water police were conducting a search of the coastline on Wednesday afternoon, which is about 30km south of Kalbarri. 'Currently, jet skis are searching in the ocean, ATVs are searching along the beach and a local plane is conducting an aerial search,' she said. Police said the man was 'with a friend body surfing when he got swept away'. The water search was halted on Tuesday night before it recommended at first light on Wednesday. It is understood the 19-year-old is from the Perth metropolitan area. The desperate search comes after a 73-year-old man drowned in Shark Bay on Easter Sunday. St John WA paramedics desperately tried to save the elderly man after he was pulled from waters about 12.30pm. Police said he could not be revived. A report into his death is being prepared for the coroner. Royal Life Saving Society WA chief executive Peter Leaversuch told The West Australian he was 'deeply saddened' by the latest water incidents. 'These incidents, along with the alarming number of drowning deaths recorded nationally over the Easter long weekend, highlight the urgent need for water safety to remain a priority for everyone,' he said. 'They are a reminder of how quickly things can go wrong around the water — whether at the beach, river or backyard pool. No matter your age or swimming ability, water safety must always be front of mind. 'We urge everyone to take simple precautions to keep themselves, their families and their friends safe around the water: wear a life jackets, supervise children and avoid swimming alone. These actions can and will save lives.' Mr Leaversuch said 'broader support and investment' was needed to ensure everyone could develop swim skills. 'We can't always rely on someone being there to help, which is why personal ability in the water matters so much,' he said. 'Teaching people to swim and survive is a vital part of building personal resilience and community safety.' Six people drowned in NSW over the Easter holiday period, including a nine-year-old boy who became stuck between rocks near the shoreline of South West Rocks on Sunday. And in Victoria, a man drowned after being swept off rocks at a beach about 125km south east of Melbourne on Friday morning. The man's wife and friend were also swept into the water, but managed to survive.
