Safety message reinforced in lead-up to Easter

Visitors to the notoriously dangerous south coast are being urged to put their safety first in the lead-up to Easter.

Picture by Murray Martin: These men were lucky to escape with their lives after nearly getting swept off rocks at Salmon Holes last year.

Department of Environment and Conservation Albany district manager Mike Shephard said lives had been lost nearly every year with people slipping or being swept off rocks.

“We urge everyone to take extra precautions when fishing off rocks and to stay away from the black rocks,” he said.

“Sea spray and rain, even a light shower, can make coastal rocks extremely slippery.”

This Saturday marks one year since Perth teenager Mohammad Reza Mirzaie drowned after slipping off rocks at Salmon Holes.

The tragedy sparked a Statewide Department of Environment and Conservation rock fishing safety review, which left open the possibility of closing dangerous locations such as Salmon Holes to the public if more incidents occurred.

The drowning did not stop fishers risking their lives at Salmon Holes.

Just weeks after Mr Mirzaie died, Albany Sea Rescue Squad member Murray Martin captured a series of dramatic images of three men almost being swept off the Salmon Holes rocks.

Last month an English tourist nearly drowned after being swept off the same rocks. His life was saved by a buoy taken from a silent sentry provided by the Nathan Drew Memorial Trust.

The trust was formed to improve coastal safety after 15-year-old Nathan drowned while fishing at Salmon Holes in 2003.

ASRS president Jason Howard implored people to take responsibility for their own safety on the coast these holidays.

Mr Howard said rescue operations were often traumatic and took their toll on emergency services.

He said those who insisted on rock fishing should make use of free hire life vests provided by the Nathan Drew trust.

The vests are available at Trailblazers Albany, Albany Rod & Tackle, Little Grove Store, Lower Kalgan Store, Wellstead General Store, Bremer Bay Fish & Tackle and Youngs Siding Store.

keir.tunbridge@albanyadvertiser.com