Covid concerns for lifesavers

Lifesavers Keegan Cirillo and Steve Crisp patrol Noosa Main Beach. Photo: Rob Maccoll

Noosa lifesavers are putting their lives on the line to save others while risking the threat of Covid infection.

Noosa Surf Lifesaving Club president Ross Fisher said the safety of club members and the general public was uppermost in their minds and Covid was a constant topic of discussion.

Mr Fisher said when Covid 19 first hit Noosa in 2020 the volunteer lifesavers stepped back from duties leaving the professional lifeguards to patrol the beaches.

Volunteer lifesavers have now remained on duty since the reopening of southern borders and resurgence of Covid but have been told if they feel uncomfortable carrying out their patrol duties to contact their patrol captain.

Mr Fisher said lifesavers were provided with preventative equipment such as masks and gloves and infection control was included in their bronze medallion training.

However, volunteer lifesavers could potentially be placed in a position of contact simply due to the way that they patrol and assist member of the public, he said.

“If it’s someone’s life in danger we’d be straight out in the water to save them,“ he said.