Australia is renowned for its sun and sand but warnings on a sign posted at a Perth beach have left the internet wondering whether venturing Down Under is really worth it after all.
A list of 14 cautions and restrictions in place for visitors of Mindarie Beach, a stretch of coastline just south of a marina in the city’s northern suburbs, was shared on Reddit this week.
Swimmers are told to be on alert for dangerous currents, submerged rocks, sharks, shallow water and dumping waves.
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Snakes and the fact the beach is not monitored by lifesavers also made the list.
Summing up the signage, one person commented: “Warning: This beach will kill you. Have fun.”
Another said “I think I’ll stick to the lakes in Canada”, while another joked Mindarie was still the “safest” beach in Australia.
Well-worn Aussies accustomed to the threats were a little less alarmed, saying the cautions were “standard”.
“On the other side of the country there will be additional warnings for crocodiles and stingers,” said one person.
A local who visits Mindarie Beach said the signs “are to scare tourists that can’t swim”, something the City of Wanneroo was too busy to confirm.
But it is clear from recent statistics that the warnings are important.
The Royal Life Saving Society last month showed there were 281 drowning deaths in Australia in 2022-23.
Seventy-five of the drownings occurred at our beaches, a 29 per cent increase on the 10-year average.
Thirty-one drowning deaths were recorded in WA, with 35 per cent of the tragedies unfolding at beaches.
“Beaches are large, dynamic environments, that create diverse opportunities for fun and recreation,” according to the National Drowning Report.
“Often visitors fail to observe or underestimate present hazards, unnecessarily exposing themselves and others to danger.”
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