Holiday water safety reminder

A police officer joins (L-R) Ruth Bunford, Patti Pitman, Lisa Towse and Beau Haack for some water safety awareness education. 272764_07 Picture: MARCUS UHE

Police and Life Saving Victoria converged on Lysterfield Lake as drones flew overhead on Monday 14 March – but there was no emergency.

Instead, the officials had joined forces to share important water safety messages in the wake of 17 deaths by drowning in Victoria over the summer.

Four people have drowned at Lysterfield Lake since 2007.

The lake appears calm on the surface but currents and submerged objects below the surface make the lake a potentially hazardous place to swim.

Life Saving Victoria showcased the capabilities of their drones for monitoring activity on the water, identifying hazards and undertaking land surveying.

The safety advice from Life Saving Victoria includes swimming with a friend, actively supervising children and swimming at patrolled beach locations during patrolled times.