Latest news with #SurfLifeSaving
BBC News
12-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Why nippers clubs in Devon and Cornwall are booming after lockdown
Flat as a pancake and with a long shoreline, Carlyon Bay on Cornwall's south coast seems well suited for a meandering walk or building sandcastles. However, thousands are expected to converge on the beach this weekend for the Cornish Nipper Championships, marking a huge feat for Carlyon Bay Surf Life Saving Club, which was only set up two years ago and still operates out of a shipping captain Harry Edwards said interest in joining the club had "really exploded" since its Life Saving GB said the growth of the club was a "huge achievement" and reflected a trend across Devon and Cornwall where there were now waiting lists to join nippers in all its clubs. Nippers is a junior activities programme run by surf lifesaving clubs for children aged five to aims to teach water safety skills but also improve children's physical fitness through activities such as beach flags, sprints, surf swims and board with the Cornish Nipper Championships, more than 300 children will also be competing in the Devon Nipper Championships at Saunton Sands this weekend. Mr Edwards said he and a few others decided to set up the club to address "a dearth" of them on the south coast."We might not have the big surf at places like Woolacombe and Fistral, but the sea is still ultimately dangerous and surf lifesaving is a worthwhile sport - it's something that was missing in the area," he said."Fast forward a couple of years we have just shy of 100 members now. "It's really exploded and we also have a waiting list nearly constantly." 'Getting children off screens' Surf Life Saving GB said its membership across the country had grown from 8,820 to 10,389 since 2022, an 18% increase is primarily being driven by nippers, particularly in Devon and Cornwall, said chief executive Anna Smee."We're seeing lots more children and young people want to get involved along with their families right across Devon and Cornwall," she said."I think after Covid people got really interested in spending time on the beach and in nature - they see the positive physical and mental health benefits. "It's getting children off screens, out of the house, down on the beach and out with their friends. "This means we're raising a generation of children who understand how to stay safe in the water." Ms Smee said the organisation was appealing for more volunteers to help support its growth."The simple reason why there are waiting lists is we just need more volunteers," she said."So we would love to be able to welcome all of the children and young people into our clubs [but] we need more adults who are prepared to come and be on the beaches with them."There isn't yet good enough knowledge [of the sea]. We're really keen to expand training to as many people as possible and make sure people know how to keep themselves safe." The Australian way Mr Edwards said interest in the ocean was "expanding on all fronts", particularly after Covid, making water awareness a vital skill."You used to have to pay £1,200 for a paddleboard but now you can go and get them from Tesco, rightly or wrongly, for much, much cheaper," he said."More and more people are seeing the opportunity to get out on the coast and see the beautiful environment we've got."People are starting to appreciate it in volumes... that means there's more people getting into trouble but that spurs on people like us to educate people."Surf lifesaving is massive in Australia - prime time newsworthy, and we're following that closely."
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
Horror moment after teen mauled by shark
Horror details have emerged after a teenage boy was mauled by a shark off a popular beach in northern NSW. A 16-year-old boy was swimming in the water off Norris Headland at Cabarita Beach - between Tweed Heads and Byron Bay - shortly before 4pm on Sunday when he was attacked by a shark. The shark - which witnesses said was 2m long - mauled the right side of the teen's body, injuring his leg, hand and arm. Bystanders rushed to the boy's aid as he cried for help, pulling him from the water. An off-duty paramedic from Queensland was among those who helped the teen. They applied a tourniquet and carried him to the nearby carpark. Footage shared to social media shows the moment the teenager was pulled from the waves, with surfers and other beachgoers working together to bring him to safety. It shows the shark trailing behind the group as the boy was being taken back to the shore, its fin emerging from the water as it follows the rescuers towards the beach. Members of the crowd screamed as they rushed the boy to the sand, gathering around him as the off-duty paramedic started to treat his injuries. A Surf Life Saving NSW spokesman told NewsWire the 'conscious and breathing' teenager was flown to Gold Coast University Hospital. A second helicopter tried to locate the shark. 'The Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter conducted sweeps of the area but no shark activity was sighted,' they said. 'A jet ski was used to clear other surfers from the water.' The Surf Life Saving crew will use drones to conduct further searches of the water on Monday. Cabarita Beach will remain closed for 24 hours.
Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Boy, 3, dies after falling into garden pool while trying to reach water toys
Three-year-old Dion Robbins died on Saturday after accidentally drowning as he tried to retrieve his toys from the pool in the garden of his home. He was pronounced dead at the scene A little boy tragically died in an accidental drowning just weeks before his fourth birthday. Dion Robbins died at his home on Saturday after falling into the pool in his garden as he was trying to gather his toys. Police were called to the home in an outer Darwin suburb in Australia at around 3.30pm after the tot was found unresponsive in his backyard. He was pulled out of the water and received CPR, but it was too late. Emergency services continued CPR but Dion was pronounced dead at the scene. Police say investigations are ongoing and that a report will be prepared for the coroner. His family have now shared their heartbreak over their sudden loss. Dion's aunt Sue Longstaff, who started a GoFundMe to help them pay for funeral costs, described Dion as "adventurous" and said that what happened was a "family's worst nightmare." "There are no words to describe the pain of his loss, he was weeks away from celebrating (his) fourth birthday," Ms Longstaff told She continued: "Three-year old Dion, a happy go lucky adventurous little boy used a stool to reach the pool latch and let himself in to collect some toys and unfortunately fell into the pool." The fundraiser has so far achieved more than $9,000. According to figures from 2023-24, the Northern Territory has the highest rate of drownings in Australia. The tragedy comes after several drownings in New South Wales over the Easter weekend. A nine-year-old boy drowned after getting trapped between rocks at a beach at South West Rocks, about 400 kilometres north of Sydney. Emergency crews retrieved the boy, named Kaison Greaves, but he had died at the scene. He had been playing by the rocks with other children before he became trapped when the tide came in. Witnesses said the boy was comforted in his final moments, as his father had been able to hold his hand as he died. Kaison's father, David, said the family was heartbroken by the loss. He said: "He was an adventurer, strong-willed and incredibly funny, and always had a cheeky grin." The youngster became the seventh person to drown over the weekend, following a strong swell washing people into the ocean. Steven Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving in New South Wales, told the Sydney Morning Herald: "It has just been horrendous on a weekend that's supposed to be joyous and religious." Meanwhile, a four-year-old British boy died at a hotel swimming pool in Tenerife last month. The horror unfolded in the resort town of San Miguel de Abona on the Golf del Sur. The hotel lifeguard pulled the boy out of the water but he was unresponsive. A spokesperson for the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said: 'We are supporting the family of a British child who has died in Spain, and are in touch with the local authorities.'
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Second chance to own Sunshine Coast prize home
A Sunshine Coast prize home will go to the highest bidder after its winners decided to pass on the luxury property. Overwhelmed by their multimillion-dollar win, the owners kept renting in Western Sydney and working fulltime as weighbridge operators. The contemporary four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 278 Mooloolaba Rd, Buderim, was the major prize in a Surf Life Saving Lottery drawn in September 2024. Dubbed, 'Hilltop Haven', the prize was valued at $2m including furnishings. The property last sold for $1.8m in 2023. It is marketed by McGrath agents Glenn McIntosh and Chris Pace and will go under the hammer on May 24. Winners Mana and Tracy Raeina, of Liverpool, said they were stunned to learn they had won, at first thinking the news was a prank. 'When we first walked through the doors to the beautiful home and the awesome view it was really overwhelming for me and the family,' Mr Raeina said. 'I've been in Sydney for a very long time where the traffic is so heavy, everyone is in a rush and you never have time to even have a conversation with anyone. 'It is a totally different atmosphere on the Sunshine Coast. The location and the beach are so beautiful and the people are laidback.' But despite the appeal, the family continued their old lives while they pondered what to do, eventually deciding to return to their native Cook Islands to enjoy an early retirement. 'My wife and I, we had our dreams already planned and we decided to sell the house. We wanted to build a home back in the islands and doing a 9 to 5 job would take us a very long time to get there. 'It will be a lifestyle that my family and I have been looking forward to for a very long time, and we are definitely ready to retire.' Mr McIntosh said the owners were a devout family who had invited their pastor to the home, where they engaged in prayer for guidance following their incredible win. 'They are very simple people who have never experienced this sort of wealth before,' Mr McIntosh said. He described Buderim as a 'jewel' of the stunning Sunshine Coast. 'Up here, it is like a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle.' The home on an elevated 782 sqm block has open-plan living zones flowing onto a large alfresco deck with a barbecue area and wide coastal views, overlooking the pool. PropTrack data shows the median house price in Buderim was up 5.8 per cent to a median of $1.275m.
Scoop
23-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Over A Decade Of Leadership Impact: Surf Life Saving Celebrates Record Cohort Of Emerging Leaders In bp Leaders For Life
'Today is all about leadership: the kind that rolls up its sleeves, jumps into the surf, and makes waves both on and off the beach.' These were the words of Belinda Slement, National Education Manager at Surf Life Saving New Zealand (SLSNZ), setting the tone for the latest cohort of graduates at their final session in the bp Leaders for Life programme at Papamoa beach this month. SLSNZ believes great leadership doesn't just happen, she stressed: it's developed, nurtured, and given the right environment to thrive. That is the fundamental premise for the bp Leaders for Life programme, which has been supporting emerging leaders within surf lifesaving for the past decade. bp Leaders for Life is SLSNZ's premiere leadership development programme for current and emerging surf lifesaving leaders. It is run over 10 months, with five milestone workshops spread across the programme, each running for two to three days. Designed to inspire and empower, it equips participants with vital leadership skills, enhances their understanding of governance and operations, and fosters lasting relationships across clubs and regions. Now in its 11th intake, the programme has seen 219 graduates to date, many of whom have gone on to take up senior leadership and governance roles across the Surf Life Saving movement. The impact of the programme extends far beyond individual development, contributing to stronger, more resilient clubs and more connected communities. For the 2024-2025 programme year, a record 18 emerging leaders, aged between 20 and 35, including one participant from Surf Life Saving Australia, have graduated from the programme. Among the group, female representation stands at a strong 50%, continuing the programme's commitment to inclusive, diverse leadership. The participants were selected from a record 77 applications. 'Leadership is about creating the environment for others to succeed,' says Belinda. ' bp Leaders for Life provides the platform for our members to gain the confidence, tools and experience to lead within their clubs and communities, and ultimately help shape the future of our organisation.' The cohort were supported by a team of dedicated mentors and facilitators, many of whom are past programme graduates themselves. Their guidance and shared experience play a key role in the programme's success. Claire Adams a participant hailing from Piha Surf Life Saving Club, found the opportunity for self-reflection to be particularly useful. 'Because it was spread out over nearly a year, at regular intervals we had space to meaningfully reflect on our progress between workshops. A big focus of the program was crafting a leadership development plan for the future, so it felt holistic in that we were refining our self-reflection skills, looking back, as well as looking forward and mapping out how we will achieve our leadership aspirations." 'I came into surf lifesaving later than most and without any ties to a club, so it was also an amazing way to meet other guards, facilitators, guest speakers, SLSNZ staff and Board members. It helped me feel a stronger sense of connection to the surf community' she says. Aaron Coe of Nelson Surf Life Saving Club, a fourth-generation surf lifeguard originally hailing from Kariaotahi, says that the bp Leaders for Life programme helped to fine tune some of the leadership skills he'd been taught elsewhere. 'One of the biggest things was learning how to create safe environments for idea generation and leadership growth. So many strong ideas came out through our sessions, and through using newly taught techniques, we learnt how to define and develop them – which we will benefit all of us not just in surf, but also in our careers. It also gave me a deeper perspective of surf lifesaving as an entity, through meeting the Board members and understanding how its governance works,' he says. Aaron is also keen to apply some of his learnings at his club. 'It was important to understand how some of the other regions operate, and how they each define their limits and how to build capability beyond those limits. I'll be working through each of the pillars we learned during the programme and applying them at my club. It's about shared learnings, so understanding what other clubs are doing is critical to building our capabilities in Nelson,' he says. The programme's lead facilitator, Kate Suter of Sumner Surf Life Saving Club, believes that the programme has been going from strength to strength. 'In our current list of candidates, we have people in Club Captain roles, Club Committee and Board roles, instructing future generations, SLSNZ staff, SAR Coordinators, as well as active leaders in their own clubs. It highlights the strength of diversity in our organisational leadership, and the bright future our organisation has,' she says. SLSNZ Member Development & Engagement Officer, Poppy Crouch, says that the 2024-2025 programme has once again had a strong group of candidates. 'It's inspiring to see such a diverse cohort of passionate, driven individuals who are committed to developing their leadership skills and giving back to their clubs and communities. The energy and enthusiasm they bring to each session is a testament to the strength and future of our movement,' she says. The enduring success of bp Leaders for Life would not be possible without the generous support of programme sponsor bp, which has stood beside Surf Life Saving New Zealand since 1968. Haley Mahoney, Head of Country for bp New Zealand says that in addition to sponsoring the programme, bp is involved in its delivery, with bp team members often supporting workshops by participating on panels. 'bp takes great pride in championing our next generation of leaders within the surf lifesaving community,' she says. 'It is a remarkable initiative, fostering essential skills and experiences that not only enrich the lives of its participants but also reverberate positively within their clubs and local communities.' Notes: Participants: Ally Jones Paekākāriki Surf Lifeguards Jess Mellsop Worser Bay SLSC Nikita Bublitz Lyall Bay SLSC Gabby Palmer Ocean Beach Kiwi SLSC Charlotte Toumadj Onemana SLSC Amelia Wood Whiritoa Lifeguard Service Grace Westenberg Whangamatā SLSC Briarna Higgs Tairua SLSC Duncan Bentley Pukehina Surf Rescue Eleanor Mulrennan United North Piha SLSC Claire Adams Piha SLSC Conor McDermott Red Beach SLSC Cory Harvey Raglan SLSC Kyran Gillespie Baylys Beach SLSC Per Tonascia Sumner SLSC Aaron Coe Nelson SLSC James Lilburne Waimairi SLSC Murphy Knowles Surf Life Saving Australia Mentors: Ashleigh Hurring Fitzroy SLSC Nathan Berry Westshore SLSC Brianna Norris Whangamatā SLSC Ana Naden Waikanae SLSC Fergus Rieger Mount Maunganui Lifeguard Service Kath Manning Waipu Cove SLSC Adam Parker Piha SLSC Nathan Snell Nelson SLSC Mike Litten Waimairi SLSC Jacob Davies Taylors Mistake SLSC
