Parents train as drone operators to protect young swimmers
Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 07:32 · Archive
Parents at City Beach are training to fly drones to monitor the swimming area for sharks as the nippers season begins.
Parents at City Beach in Perth are taking up drone training to boost aerial surveillance and protect young swimmers from sharks. City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club president Eoghan McKenna said qualified volunteer operators will provide additional monitoring when the nippers season begins on 25 October.
The initiative follows an incident earlier this month when a 13-metre whale carcass washed up on South City Beach, attracting white sharks dangerously close to shore and prompting the beach's temporary closure. The dead humpback weighed about 18 tonnes and took days to remove by crane before being taken to a waste management facility on 1 October.
Mr McKenna said the club had received strong interest from parents and experienced lifesavers keen to join the drone program. 'We have actually had a lot of people put their hand up this year to say, hey, we want to be part of the drone program,' he said. The club plans to operate drones on weekends over a 400–500 metre stretch of beach between the groins, alongside increased water-based safety equipment.
How it is being reported
- Parents of City Beach nippers take up drone training to protect next generation from shark attacksThe parents of City Beach nippers have offered to take up drone training in an attempt at better protecting our next generation of surf life savers from shark attacks.Perth Now · 17 Oct, 07:18
- Parents of City Beach nippers take up drone training to protect next generation from shark attacksThe parents of City Beach nippers have offered to take up drone training in an attempt at better protecting our next generation of surf life savers from shark attacks.The West Australian · 17 Oct, 07:18
In this story: City Beach · Perth · Eoghan McKenna · City of Perth Surf Life Saving Club
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