January 4th 2025.
It was a typical summer day at the Portsea Surf Life Saving Club when Henry Kiss, a dedicated lifeguard, took to social media to warn beachgoers of the dangerous conditions ahead. Little did he know, his warning would soon become a reality. Just an hour later, Kiss and his team received an urgent call about an unresponsive swimmer at Gunnamatta Beach, known for its treacherous waves and strong currents.
Kane Treloar, a member of Life Saving Victoria, described Gunnamatta as a notorious beach with large surf that poses a great risk to swimmers. Unfortunately, the warning came too late for the unresponsive swimmer who had suffered a medical emergency in the water and could not be revived. This tragic incident set the tone for what would be a busy and chaotic day for rescue crews along Victoria's coastline.
As if one emergency wasn't enough, another alarm was raised when a lone jet ski was found off the coast of Safety Beach. A group of concerned boaters had spotted two young boys - around 13 years old - struggling in the water. One of them was unresponsive and bleeding from his head, indicating a possible spinal injury from a jet ski collision. The rescue team worked quickly to bring the boy back to shore, where he was met by a swarm of beach towels as he was placed in a neck brace and airlifted to the hospital.
In total, there were 46 incidents reported across Victoria, including a mass rescue at Jan Juc and nine people who were pulled from a rip at Portsea. Despite the warnings, many people still chose to ignore the dangers and flock to the beach, with Mount Martha resembling a picturesque European postcard and prime beach spots in Blairgowie and Sorrento filling up quickly.
Meanwhile, inland, firefighters were bracing for a different kind of extreme - bushfires. With the dry and hot conditions across the state, it only takes a spark to start a fire that can quickly spread. Jason Heffernan, Chief Officer of the Country Fire Authority, expressed his concern for the Grampians fire that had already burned through 46,000 hectares and was still spreading. In Ararat, residents were even forced to put out spot fires at Green Hill Lake.
The extreme heat also prompted warnings for pet owners from the Lost Dogs Home, reminding them to be mindful of their furry friends in the scorching weather. According to Temira Keat from the Lost Dogs Home, if you can't leave your hand on the pavement for seven seconds without it burning, it's too hot for your dog.
The Bureau of Meteorology's Miriam Bradbury explained that the heatwave was caused by a wind change that brought in hot air from the northern parts of Australia. This prompted a heatwave warning for parts of the state, including East Gippsland and West and South Gippsland Districts. The searing heat was expected to last until Monday, with authorities fearing that the worst was yet to come.
With the heatwave in full force, it's important to stay informed and take precautions. To stay updated on the latest news, sports, politics, and weather, download the 9News app and receive notifications straight to your smartphone. Available on both the Apple App Store and Google Play, the 9News app is your go-to source for all breaking news. Stay safe and stay cool.
[This article has been trending online recently and has been generated with AI. Your feed is customized.]
[Generative AI is experimental.]
