CARRUM surf lifesavers are pleading with beachgoers to follow water safety advice following a busy weekend that included mass rescues, blue-ringed octopus sightings and a missing child.
On Saturday (7 January) lifesavers were called into action when a blue-ringed octopus was found at Carrum beach in the afternoon.
Carrum Surf Life Saving Club captain Catherine Paulsen said the sighting, the second one this summer, highlighted the need for parents to educate their children of the dangers of touching blue-ringed octopus and to know what to do if someone is bitten.
On Sunday, shortly after 5pm, a person was rescued from the mouth of Patterson River, 300 metres north of the flagged swimming area at the surf lifesaving clubhouse, by a person riding a jet ski.
That afternoon, another three males, aged 15, 16 and 36, and two girls, 12 and 14, had to be rescued after getting into trouble.
Patrol captain Charlie Barton pleaded with swimmers to not swim near the mouth of Patterson River.
“We are constantly pulling swimmers from the water at the mouth of the River and I fear it’s only a matter of time before we have a drowning here,” he said.
He said the safest place to swim was in front of the surf lifesaving clubhouse, between the red and yellow flags.
A child reported as missing at 6pm was found a short time later playing further up the beach.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 11 January 2017