A rescue team on the west coast of Waikato takes rescue missions to a whole new level.
While lifeguards at Sunset Beach in Port Waikato have traditionally relied on swimming and inflatables to cover the long stretch of ocean beach and rocky shoreline, they now communicate with high-risk beachgoers in minutes using drone technology.
Club president and patrol captain Malcolm Beattie thinks it’s “damn good” and, after a year of learning, believes it’s now an important part of their equipment.
It halves the time it takes for staff to reach people on foot or by IRB.
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“It’s another tool in the toolbox and a very efficient piece…it’s not a standalone, but it’s a damn good one,” said Beattie.
”Especially on Sunset Beach, it’s a unique position … so we have about four points of interest at a time.
“We can talk to the people in the water through the microphone, we can take pictures of the incident and we can give information back to the guards before we have to launch a big launch.”
Drones are still considered a rare form of rescue equipment and have not yet been adopted nationwide.
Beattie believes they are the only surf rescue team using the device full time.
Over the past decade, the equipment has been tried and tested by a number of rescue teams around the country, but national manager Andy Kent said no convincing benefits have been found.
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Malcolm Beattie, the president of the Sunset Beach Lifeguard Service in Port Waikato, along with his lifeguard crew, uses a drone to save lives.
“Often the use of drones is limited by the type of rescue, geographic location, weather conditions and other agencies involved.”
But those at Sunset Beach say the $5,000 device is worth every penny.
Drone operator Mark Edwards said it gives lifeguards a “bird’s eye view” of the beach.
The device – about the size of a dinner plate – can be in the air and float to an unfolding situation in minutes.
As they buzz above the surf and sand, lifeguards can warn those in danger.
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The drone can halve the time it takes to reach people in danger.
“Attention Swimmer” is the warning people would hear through an intercom in the drone, while a camera watches them.
“You stand above and look down on the situations and are able to get into areas that aren’t very accessible by land or water,” Edwards said.
However, communication is one-way.
Only the lifeguards can issue messages or commands – responses are not recorded. But a general signal would be for the people to raise their hands as a sign.
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Malcolm Beattie said people on the rocks have been worrying lately.
Overall, Kent said piloting drones in the life-saving surf environment needs more work.
There were a number of pros and cons, such as the skills required to fly it and surrounding hazards such as airfields.
“Rescue helicopters are also an important tool in searches and some rescues, and we would not normally operate a drone when a helicopter is involved due to the risks of two aircraft sharing the same airspace.”
Sunset Beach lifeguards will be retrained and trained to operate the drone safely.
Beattie said they see the drone as “a vital tool in our patrol arsenal”.
Surf Lifesaving New Zealand will continue to monitor the use of the devices while receiving advice and guidance from Australian Surf Life Saving staff working with drones.
“We are monitoring drone use by clubs, and we are also working with Surf Life Saving New South Wales to analyze drone use… and introduce measures where appropriate which have been successful,” said Kent.
“We also committed to assessing the use of drones in a life-saving surf environment as part of the corona findings from the Bowentown Beach shark attack.”