Frankston City Council will introduce a strengthened water-safety program this summer, following the deaths of two men at Frankston Beach during severe weather in October.
The incident occurred during strong winds and rough surf, when a 36-year-old man entered the water with a surfboard that later snapped. A 43-year-old local man went in after him in an attempt to help. Both men were winched from the water by police but could not be revived. The event drew significant community concern and renewed attention on coastal safety.
Senior police warn against entering water in severe conditions
Following the incident, police urged the public to take weather warnings seriously. One senior officer said:
“The weather conditions yesterday were obviously not appropriate to be in the water surfing, whether you’re experienced or not.”
He added:
“Please do not go swimming or surfing in conditions like this when we know that it’s going to be treacherous conditions. You put yourself at risk, you put people who jump in to help you at risk, you put emergency services at risk.”
Council outlines new safety measures
Frankston City Council has announced a suite of actions aimed at improving safety across the foreshore this summer. These include extending lifeguard hours, increasing patrols along the beaches and foreshore, and installing clearer warning signs to indicate when conditions are too dangerous for swimming or water activities.
Mayor Kris Bolam said:
“Our coastline is our most prized natural asset … we are now doing more than ever to support a safer summer for everyone.”
Reflecting on the October incident, he said:
“The loss of two lives on our foreshore was incredibly heartbreaking. In the wake of such tragedy, I pledged additional investment in coastal safety measures.”
Council will also continue its free swim-education initiative, supporting residents who may be unfamiliar with coastal conditions or lack water confidence.
Preparing for a busy summer
The drownings highlighted how rapidly conditions on Port Phillip Bay can deteriorate, even outside the peak summer months. Authorities say the new safety approach is designed to give beachgoers clearer guidance and earlier warnings, reducing the risk of similar incidents.
Council’s focus this year is on prevention: stronger visual alerts, more active monitoring and clearer communication when surf and wind conditions make the water unsafe.
As Mayor Bolam noted:
“Our aim is always to keep people safe, especially when conditions change rapidly.”
