Daring selfies putting lives at risk

An image search of the south coast reveals a plethora of breathtaking scenery but also an increasing number of daring “selfies” at some of the region’s most dangerous beauty spots.

Numerous warnings from local and State rescue services and reported life-threatening incidents have not deterred this behaviour.

The Gap and the Natural Bridge are among the common hotspots despite six deaths and five serious accidents there since 1973.

A $6.1 million viewing platform at The Gap and Natural Bridge opened in April, but visitors still flout warning signs for daring selfies, leaning over the 40m cliff’s edge high above the unpredictable Southern Ocean.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services district officer Kevin Parsons said this behaviour put a strain on rescue volunteers and resources.

“If they get themselves into a situation where they require assistance, a lot of that assistance will come from volunteer resources so it become an impost on their personal time,” he said.

“But the risk is increased many times with weather conditions like the other day.

“As the weather deteriorates, the level of risk increases, so does the pressure of rescue resources because they have to carry out the task in those weather conditions.”

Mr Parsons said people needed to be mindful of the unpredictable weather and coastal conditions of the region.

“People who are conducting that type of activity really need to consider (their) own safety in (a) coastal environment,” he said.

“There have been many stories over the years of exceptionally large swells swamping boats or catching people unawares on rocks. The fact that it is a fine day and low swell doesn’t guaran-tee safety if in a precarious location.

“And there is an increased time factor for a response which the adverse weather creates.” Earlier this year, Albany Sea Rescue operations co-ordinator Chris Johns said it astounded him people still risked their lives when there was a new viewing platform at The Gap.

“It’s just frustrating from our point of view because these acts are the ones that we have to respond to,” he said.

In June, a reader sent theAlbany Advertiser a photo of a family near the cliff’s edge with one member holding a toddler.