Yarra Ranges residents seeking a chance to take to the water with the warm weather we’ve had in the start of 2025 are being warned to be responsible after an extraordinarily busy start to the year for Victoria Police.
The Water Police Squad is issuing a water safety warning ahead of the weekend as figures show the unit has been called to more than 100 incidents in the first week of 2025.
During the same time last year there were 17 incidents, while the year before 36 were recorded over the period.
Water Police Squad Inspector James Dalton said they’ve had an incredibly busy start to the year with thousands of people taking to our waterways during the hot weather.
“While most people do the right thing, there are some who show blatant disregard for the safety of other water users. Already we’ve seen multiple serious collisions on the water,” he said.
“These young people are lucky to be alive, but instead of enjoying the summer they’re now recovering in hospital with serious injuries.
Many of this year’s callouts have related to dangerous jet ski behaviour including speeding, travelling too close to other swimmers and in some cases even collisions with other vessels.
A multi-agency rescue was required last Saturday when a jet ski and boat collided on Safety Beach about 2.45pm on 4 January.
A 14-year-old boy, who was a passenger on the jet ski, had to be airlifted to hospital with serious upper body injuries.
The male rider and second passenger, aged 43 and 14, also had to be rescued from the water and were taken by road to hospital.
Two boat passengers sustained minor injuries but did not require urgent medical treatment.
Police seized the jet ski and boat as part of their investigation which remains ongoing.
That same day in Rye, a jet ski carrying three teenage males nosedived into a wave, throwing all three occupants overboard about 3.20pm.
Police responded and rescued the trio who were luckily uninjured during the incident.
Officers also towed back the jet ski which had its entire hull broken apart in the water.
Further up the bay two more jet skis collided on Parkdale Beach about 10.35am on Friday 3 January.
The riders, aged 17 and 19, were travelling together when it’s believed one jet ski turned and collided with the other vessel.
The 19-year-old rider sustained serious middle-body injuries and was taken to hospital via ambulance.
Insp Dalton said people need to remember that a split-second decision can have lifelong consequences.
“Water Police will continue to patrol the state’s waterways this summer, but vessel operators need to take some responsibility for their own behaviour and safety, because we can’t be everywhere at once,” he said.
“That means wearing a lifejacket, respecting the safety of other water users, and carrying the mandatory safety equipment.”
With warm weather predicted this weekend, the squad is urging vessel operators to take extra care with significant crowds expected both inland and along the coast.
Water Police will have a presence at key areas across Port Phillip Bay, including inner Melbourne beaches and Hastings, the Mornington Peninsula and Surf Coast, as well as Paynesville.
Officers will also patrol inland areas including Lake Eildon.
Vessel operators can expect to be breath tested, have their marine licenses checked, and vessels inspected for the mandatory safety equipment such as lifejackets, torches and fire extinguishers.
The law requires boat users to wear a lifejacket on a powered vessel up to 4.8m, when travelling solo, and at heightened risk.
It is mandatory for jet skiers and kayakers to wear a lifejacket at all times, yet police are still seeing people without them. Children aged under 12 must also wear a lifejacket at all times when in open areas of a vessel.
The Water Police Squad will use police boats and jet skis to enhance its visibility on the water.
The Small Boat Team, part of the Water Police Squad, will also be in out in force to boost efforts – using a mix of jet skis and inflatable rescue boats to respond to search and rescue incidents on the water and deter those putting others at risk.
On top of patrols, the squad will also be running several targeted operations over the summer season to target rogue jet ski riders both on the water and at ramps.
