1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:03,640 Speaker 1: The search continues. This is just so tragic. And if 2 00:00:03,680 --> 00:00:06,880 Speaker 1: you saw the video footage of this young man Meddi Habibi, 3 00:00:06,960 --> 00:00:09,719 Speaker 1: who was standing on rocks on Granite Island, slips on 4 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:13,800 Speaker 1: the rocks and basically that's where the footage can't Saudi. 5 00:00:13,880 --> 00:00:16,400 Speaker 1: He falls into the water just a second later and 6 00:00:16,640 --> 00:00:19,000 Speaker 1: no panic, then not swept out. Then there are rocks 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,040 Speaker 1: in front of him. But after that, obviously he was 8 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:25,759 Speaker 1: pulled out by the tide, the waves coming in and 9 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: out on Granite Island. An absolute tragic event and family 10 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: still holding onto the faintus of hopes he may be found. However, 11 00:00:35,159 --> 00:00:37,520 Speaker 1: boats couldn't get out yesterday in the rough weather. Today 12 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:42,080 Speaker 1: is a better day and hopefully search proves fruitful. But 13 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:46,880 Speaker 1: you would have to say this long after hopes will 14 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:51,000 Speaker 1: be fading. It raises all sorts of questions about being 15 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:55,280 Speaker 1: safer in on and around water over any time, and 16 00:00:55,320 --> 00:01:00,000 Speaker 1: particularly heading into summer from oz swim Ambassador Brook hands 17 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: on the line, Brook, good morning, thank you for coming on. 18 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:03,680 Speaker 2: Yeah, good morning. 19 00:01:04,680 --> 00:01:07,399 Speaker 1: This is shaping as a tragedy and there's all sorts 20 00:01:07,400 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: of lessons I suppose to be learned from this about 21 00:01:10,920 --> 00:01:13,200 Speaker 1: the dangers have been too close to the water when 22 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: you're not a strong swimmer. 23 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:21,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's just you're so sad to hear of another 24 00:01:21,880 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: potential drowning and another individual missing. And we've just had 25 00:01:26,520 --> 00:01:30,320 Speaker 2: those reports come out. The National Drowning Report came out 26 00:01:30,440 --> 00:01:33,120 Speaker 2: last week and we did see an increase. We've seen 27 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:36,040 Speaker 2: now three hundred and twenty three people drown in Australian 28 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:40,360 Speaker 2: waterways over the last year, and it is exactly that, Matthew. 29 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 2: It's a stark reminder that we have to we have 30 00:01:44,040 --> 00:01:46,840 Speaker 2: to fight against these drownings, that they're far from over, 31 00:01:46,880 --> 00:01:49,080 Speaker 2: and we just yeah, we need to continue to push 32 00:01:49,120 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 2: that message out. 33 00:01:49,800 --> 00:01:54,600 Speaker 1: There is signage of problem around some areas. Now I 34 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:59,880 Speaker 1: suppose locals know of potentially treacherous conditions, but you know what, 35 00:02:00,080 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: I'm a local at the end of the day. I've 36 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,600 Speaker 1: been down to Victor and other places lots of times. 37 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:06,920 Speaker 1: But just because you live in, for instance, a state 38 00:02:07,000 --> 00:02:11,000 Speaker 1: or a region, you don't know what might be further afield, 39 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: just even slightly. I mean, this young man is new 40 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 1: to the country, but for those of us who have 41 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,760 Speaker 1: lived here all our lives, it's also just as deadly 42 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 1: for us potentially if we don't know the area we're 43 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: about to visit. 44 00:02:24,200 --> 00:02:26,760 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's right. And then whether it's a new immigrant 45 00:02:26,919 --> 00:02:29,400 Speaker 2: or you know, or even visitors and you know, I've 46 00:02:29,400 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 2: been down to Victor Harvard many times and visitors and 47 00:02:33,200 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 2: tourists and as you mentioned, locals, and you know, is 48 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 2: signage going to be enough? You know, you know, maybe not. 49 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:43,920 Speaker 2: It's unfortunately we're seen that there is there's still so 50 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:49,680 Speaker 2: many adults that are not learning to swim, and of 51 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:55,240 Speaker 2: course from overseas backgrounds, but also from from Ozzie adults 52 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 2: that have lived here their whole life that aren't learning 53 00:02:57,960 --> 00:03:00,960 Speaker 2: to swim. So we did see that it's eighty two 54 00:03:01,000 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 2: percent of drownings were male over the last year and 55 00:03:04,080 --> 00:03:08,120 Speaker 2: forty percent were adults over fifty five. So I really 56 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 2: believe that there are a lot of adults that we 57 00:03:12,280 --> 00:03:15,480 Speaker 2: can get in to teach them that skillful life. And 58 00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:19,120 Speaker 2: it's not just about learning to swim, it's actually realizing, 59 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 2: you know, those those moments where there's you are in 60 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:27,560 Speaker 2: trouble and to not panic and the you know, the 61 00:03:27,600 --> 00:03:30,600 Speaker 2: simple survival skills are laying on your back and if 62 00:03:30,639 --> 00:03:32,880 Speaker 2: you're caught in that rip of just going with it, 63 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 2: and you know, that's really difficult when when you're in 64 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 2: those circumstances, and of course it's coming at a shop 65 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 2: if particularly in this situation falling off rocks. But I think, yeah, 66 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:46,760 Speaker 2: the messages really aren't getting out there, and we need 67 00:03:46,800 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 2: to continue to push that. And you know, I've been 68 00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 2: honored to be an awesome and ambassador for a very 69 00:03:52,000 --> 00:03:55,200 Speaker 2: long time and I really just want to continue to 70 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:58,680 Speaker 2: bring these these yeah, these statistics down. 71 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, absolutely concerning eighty two percent of drownings being male, 72 00:04:03,600 --> 00:04:06,800 Speaker 1: and I suppose inevitably that points to a little bit 73 00:04:06,800 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: of risk taking behavior. Potentially, that's just the frightening stat Yeah, 74 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:12,120 Speaker 1: and that's what. 75 00:04:12,040 --> 00:04:14,440 Speaker 2: We're seeing, the risk taking, you know, the lack of 76 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 2: swimming and water safety skills. And you know, as a 77 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: as a surfl savor myself, I see people on you know, 78 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 2: I'm there, I've put the flags up. I've told you know, 79 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,840 Speaker 2: everyone knows to swimming between the red and yellow flags. 80 00:04:26,839 --> 00:04:28,400 Speaker 2: If they've come on to the beach and they swimming 81 00:04:28,400 --> 00:04:30,480 Speaker 2: the wrong spot, I still say, hey, get back in 82 00:04:30,520 --> 00:04:33,479 Speaker 2: the flags. And there's still a lot of bimmers that 83 00:04:33,600 --> 00:04:35,719 Speaker 2: are just like, no, don't want to listen to you today. 84 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:38,039 Speaker 2: You know, I'm going to I'm going to take the 85 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 2: risk and swim near the rip. And that's yeah, it 86 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 2: is really it's upsetting in a way. So those water 87 00:04:44,120 --> 00:04:46,839 Speaker 2: safety and life saving skills across you know, from the 88 00:04:47,120 --> 00:04:50,120 Speaker 2: from the young ones, from even the teenagers that we 89 00:04:50,240 --> 00:04:53,000 Speaker 2: see taking risks all the way up to the young adult. 90 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:56,479 Speaker 2: We we need to you know, continue to get those 91 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,800 Speaker 2: messages out there. And for me, I guess as a 92 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 2: you know, as Olympic swimmer and now as a surf 93 00:05:01,839 --> 00:05:04,400 Speaker 2: life saver and as a mum, to see that there's 94 00:05:04,440 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 2: still so many of those those those statistics are you know, 95 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,599 Speaker 2: the top one is the beach, then the river and 96 00:05:11,600 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 2: the creek, the ocean and the harbor. We're seeing you know, 97 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 2: drownings from you know swimming and recreation and then falls 98 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:23,239 Speaker 2: and and still in boating. So yeah, it's it's tough 99 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: and I really feel for the families have been have 100 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 2: you know, have had to had to go through just this, 101 00:05:31,120 --> 00:05:34,040 Speaker 2: the heartache of losing a loved one over over these 102 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,960 Speaker 2: last twelve months to drowning and those three hundred and 103 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:41,160 Speaker 2: twenty three people, Matthew, it's it's really sad in a 104 00:05:41,200 --> 00:05:43,479 Speaker 2: way when you when you think of it, but I 105 00:05:43,480 --> 00:05:46,520 Speaker 2: guess for us from Austrian's point of view, we just continue, 106 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:49,799 Speaker 2: we continue every day to lead in the water safety 107 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 2: education and training and we just go. For us, we 108 00:05:53,040 --> 00:05:56,359 Speaker 2: just continue to remain committed to that that mission of 109 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 2: ours and that's just to ensure that every person in 110 00:05:59,000 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 2: Australia has a null they've got the skills and the 111 00:06:01,640 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 2: confidence to stay safe in and around water and will 112 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,599 Speaker 2: I will continue to be the voice. And it's tough 113 00:06:09,640 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 2: on days like this, but yeah, the messages have to 114 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:14,719 Speaker 2: get out there, don't they They. 115 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: Do indeed, and look part of the messaging, and this 116 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: is common sense having a look at your website. You 117 00:06:19,480 --> 00:06:23,080 Speaker 1: know the obvious things. Don't swim alone. For families at home, 118 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,920 Speaker 1: check the pool fence and make sure it lucks and 119 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:29,280 Speaker 1: keeps little kids out. But for adults, the things that 120 00:06:29,360 --> 00:06:32,600 Speaker 1: we probably do commonplace, you know, checking the phone, and 121 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 1: you talk about beaches. As we go into summer, there'll 122 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,320 Speaker 1: be a lot of picnics on the beach, bit of alcohol, 123 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,480 Speaker 1: you know, people let their guards slip a little bit 124 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: and that's potentially a really dangerous time to jump into 125 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:45,120 Speaker 1: the water. 126 00:06:46,160 --> 00:06:48,159 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's another big one, isn't it. It's the risk 127 00:06:48,200 --> 00:06:50,320 Speaker 2: taking and you know, just thinking after a couple of 128 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:52,400 Speaker 2: drinks that you know it won't be me, everything will 129 00:06:52,440 --> 00:06:54,919 Speaker 2: be fine. And that's when we're seeing a lot of 130 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:58,640 Speaker 2: those problems, problems happen. And as you mentioned, the phone, 131 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:02,440 Speaker 2: the phone is the biggest issue when when you're around 132 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 2: you know, young kids, you know, staying within arms arms 133 00:07:05,520 --> 00:07:07,760 Speaker 2: reach of them. But just get off your phone and 134 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: be totally present, like be in the moment with your 135 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:13,800 Speaker 2: with your friends, with your family, with your loved ones. Yeah, 136 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:17,240 Speaker 2: particularly over over spring and summer, Like we've seen some 137 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:19,560 Speaker 2: of some really warm weather already at the start of 138 00:07:19,640 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 2: spring throughout you know, throughout Australia. But just you know, 139 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,600 Speaker 2: just enjoy being around water. But also you've got to 140 00:07:26,720 --> 00:07:28,360 Speaker 2: you've you've got to be ready. You've got to be 141 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:32,600 Speaker 2: ready for for every situation. So yeah, you can relax 142 00:07:32,640 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 2: and enjoy that. I always still like to be on 143 00:07:35,200 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 2: and I feel like I'm on all the time, no 144 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,680 Speaker 2: matter no matter what what we're where, I am in water. 145 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,240 Speaker 2: And yeah, and I love the water. I love it. 146 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:46,400 Speaker 2: I love it so much. First, Yeah, these are really 147 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,760 Speaker 2: you know, just it touches your heart these moments. 148 00:07:49,840 --> 00:07:53,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, it does, absolutely it does. And Brook, just finally, 149 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: and because we're running out of time, you were telling 150 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,880 Speaker 1: me just before we began speaking that the the drownings 151 00:07:59,880 --> 00:08:03,400 Speaker 1: of young children is down, which is excellent and that's 152 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,240 Speaker 1: the result of learning to Swim programs kicking in over 153 00:08:06,280 --> 00:08:09,080 Speaker 1: the years and youngsters have got a better knowledge of swimming, 154 00:08:09,120 --> 00:08:11,000 Speaker 1: staying afloat and staying safe in the water. 155 00:08:12,040 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 2: Yeah, which is fantastic and we want to see that 156 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:18,200 Speaker 2: continue to happen. So continue to make sure you put 157 00:08:18,240 --> 00:08:20,960 Speaker 2: your young kids into the swimming lessons, babies as young 158 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:24,400 Speaker 2: as six months. But for me, I would really love 159 00:08:24,440 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 2: to see our new Aussies take up swimming lessons and 160 00:08:29,520 --> 00:08:32,120 Speaker 2: give them an opportunity to be safe in on and 161 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 2: around water. And you know, we all love enjoying water. 162 00:08:34,920 --> 00:08:39,439 Speaker 2: So Oswim offers so many courses for every single age 163 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:42,840 Speaker 2: group and I'd really love to see everyone take up 164 00:08:43,440 --> 00:08:44,520 Speaker 2: learning to swim. 165 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:49,040 Speaker 1: Okay, and if people want more info on swimming programs, Brook, 166 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: I'll swim a good place to start. 167 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, definitely oswim dot com dot au so you definitely 168 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:56,840 Speaker 2: check out our website where on all the social media 169 00:08:57,080 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 2: as well, and even for the parents, get her out 170 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:03,319 Speaker 2: there that might might want to do a course and 171 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 2: might want to teach to teach someone to swim. We're 172 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:09,240 Speaker 2: also lowered the age of fifteen for the teenagers that 173 00:09:09,280 --> 00:09:11,800 Speaker 2: want to get in and have a job over the summer. 174 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 2: So it's a great course to do and it really 175 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,199 Speaker 2: is an opportunity for you to get in there and 176 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:21,160 Speaker 2: to also teach someone else a special skill, which is 177 00:09:21,280 --> 00:09:23,760 Speaker 2: the gift of learning to swim. And I think it's 178 00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 2: a pretty special job to have as well. 179 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:30,320 Speaker 1: Fantastic, Brook. Really appreciate your time today on what is 180 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:33,719 Speaker 1: shaping up to well, hopefully not be a tragedy. The 181 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 1: search continues. Hopefully this young man is found, but at 182 00:09:36,720 --> 00:09:38,679 Speaker 1: this stage a couple of days in, it doesn't look 183 00:09:38,720 --> 00:09:41,880 Speaker 1: good from here, but I appreciate you coming on and 184 00:09:41,880 --> 00:09:42,840 Speaker 1: talking about a Brook. 185 00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:45,640 Speaker 2: Thank you, Sending love and light to the family. 186 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:50,080 Speaker 1: Indeed, brook Anson ambassador ask swim i swim dot com 187 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,800 Speaker 1: dot au as she said, for great advice on learning 188 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:56,600 Speaker 1: to swim courses, et cetera. So make sure you check 189 00:09:56,640 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 1: it out and stay safe in the water over the 190 00:09:58,720 --> 00:09:59,640 Speaker 1: coming warm months.