Busy start to season tests guards' mettle

Lifeguards leapt into action just hours after pitching their flags for the start of the patrol season when a tourist collapsed on Cable Beach.

Shire of Broome senior beach lifeguard John Hardbattle said assistance was given to a 68-year-old man on Good Friday, the first day of patrol, after he had suffered excessive sun exposure.

"He was dehydrated with heat exhaustion and collapsed," he said.

The man, who was holidaying in Broome at the time, received first aid before he was taken to hospital.

He has since made a full recovery.

But activity didn't stop there for the lifeguards when they had to close Cable Beach after two confirmed irukandji jellyfish stings over the Easter weekend.

Mr Hardbattle said the beginning of the patrol season had been quite eventful.

"The start of the season has been a bit of a baptism of fire for us," he said.

"The beach is a dynamic environment. You never know what you're going to get."

Despite the first two cases of irukandji jellyfish stings occurring so early in the season, Mr Hardbattle said it shouldn't discourage beachgoers and swimmers.

"We average between three and five stings on the patrol section of Cable Beach a year, which is an incredibly small proportion of the number of visitors to Broome using the beach and swimming in the water," he said.

"So the actual statistical chance of getting stung by an irukandji jellyfish is incredibly small.

"We would recommend swimmers at the beach to take precautions such as wearing a long-sleeve rash shirt … which reduces your chance of getting stung by 50 per cent."

Patrols run until November 1, with lifeguards stationed between the red and yellow swimming area flags in their distinctive blue uniforms between 9am and 4.30pm each day.

Mr Hardbattle said it was important the public followed lifeguards' instructions to swim between the flags and pay attention to warning signs.

This year, Mr Hardbattle has been joined by Cally Emmins for her second season on Cable Beach, Broome residents Ric Cockman and Jack Castellarin and Kevin Walton from the UK.

Broome Surf Life Saving Club volunteers will assist the lifeguards from May to October by running patrols on Sundays from 8.30am-4.30pm.