LIFEGUARDS CARRY OUT RECORD NUMBERS OF RESCUES DURING A HORRIFIC YEAR OF DROWNINGS
This summer has been tough for our surf lifesavers with a horrific number of drownings happening at different water environments across the country. What’s most upsetting is nearly all fatal drownings are preventable.
New Zealand has a 44% higher ten-year average beach and coastal fatal drowning rate per capita than Australia. This is a hugely concerning statistic and as a coastal nation, we need to do far better.
While our drowning numbers desperately need improvement, beach and coastal fatalities would be far worse without the efforts of the country’s Surf Lifesaving Service.
Last summer, lifeguards saved 513 lives, assisted 1,142 people to safety and took 111,861 preventative actions. Patrols have also been busy this year, carrying out record numbers of rescues.
YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS CRUCIAL TO OUR WORK
We are a charity and the work we do is only made possible with your help and generosity.
Your contribution allows us to continue lifeguard patrols across the country. It also enables us to invest in research, education and beach safety communication because prevention is key to saving lives.
KEEPING PATROLS GOING IN A COVID-19 WORLD
For the past few years, the Covid-19 pandemic has added to our challenges. Surf Life Saving New Zealand has worked hard to ensure lifeguards can continue their vital role of keeping people safe at the beaches and patrols are not compromised.
WE NEED YOU MORE THAN EVER
Your support is valued now more than ever. Your contribution is crucial to help us save lives on our beaches and coastline.
THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WAYS YOU CAN SUPPORT US:
* Donations over $5 are tax deductible.
WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES
Our volunteer Surf Lifeguards rely on generous donors just like you to help them save the lives of loved ones year-round. Your donation ensures our volunteers on the beaches have the training and support they need. Your donation will help save lives.
Every year millions of people visit our beaches and thousands of these visitors find themselves in urgent need of a life-saving rescue or simply look for the reassurance and safety of the red and yellow flags. This is what we are here for, to keep your family and friends safe in the water.
Our focus is to help fund our clubs and provide the training, resources and support our incredible frontline volunteer lifeguards need so that they can continue to save lives . . . but as an organisation we also invest in research, technology, education and beach safety communications because we believe that prevention is key to saving lives.
Your support today of Surf Life Saving NZ will ensure that millions of
Kiwis and tourists alike that visit the beach, go home safely.
Our vision is to see no one drown on our beaches. Your support will help us reach that goal by ensuring our volunteer Surf Lifeguards have all the resources and training they need to keep people safe at the beach and on our coastlines all year round and that we can increase our preventative measures to reduce New Zealand’s drowning toll.
