Drone used in world first ocean rescue
A new rescue drone was barely out of the box before it was put to use in a real rescue at Lennox Head on Thursday. Two teenage boys were seen in distress about a kilometre north of the patrol area at Lennox Head, on the New South Wales far north coast.
The 17-year-old and 15-year-old boys were about 700 metres offshore in a swell of about 3 metres. A member of the public reported seeing the boys, and within two minutes the new drone had located the boys and dropped an inflatable flotation device to them. The boys clung to the rescue pod and were able to swim to shore. Surf Life Saving NSW said the boys were exhausted but unharmed.
The rescue drones were only unveiled at Lennox Head Thursday morning, as part of a collaboration between Surf Life Saving NSW and the State Government. The Government announced last month it would invest $430,000 in drone technology as part of a trial on the NSW north coast.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro said that investment had paid off when the technology was used in the dramatic rescue.
"This is a world-first rescue," he said. "Never before has a drone fitted with a flotation device been used to rescue swimmers like this."
Ballina lifeguard supervisor Jai Sheridan, who operated the drone, said being part of the operation had been "unreal".
"I'm just so happy that it was a really good outcome and these two boys were able to make it to shore safely," he said. "Between taking off and spotting the swimmers and then deploying the flotation device, it took us only about 70 seconds."
Surf Life Saving NSW project manager for unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), Kelvin Morton, said the project was a world-first.
"There is no other lifesaving operation or organisation worldwide that is doing what we're doing on the size and scale that we're doing it," he said.
"These UAVs that we're using to drop these inflatable pods is innovative, and we know that most or all of the lifesaving organisations around the world are stepping back and waiting to see how this goes."
Mr Morton said the drones gave surf lifesavers a new advantage.
"It gives them eyes across the water at a height of 60 metres and they can move at 50 kilometres an hour," he said.
"They've never had that ability before. They can see things in the water that a jet-ski simply cannot."
The NSW north coast trial finishes at the end of April.
Surf Life Saving NSW will then assess a roll-out of the project across the state.
//ELLOISE FARROW-SMITH
© Australian Broadcasting Corporation. All rights reserved.
Comments
I'm calling a setup. Those boys were in no distress they were just floating there and appeared calm to me. One even looks to have fins on, the other a wetsuit in these these water temps. Is this just some good PR
And the one in the wetty body surfed that wave in nicely near the end. If you can body surf you can swim.
That flotation device certainly wouldn't help anyone swim to shore. In fact, it would be a hinderance. Fine to keep people afloat, but the fact these two blokes swim it back to shore makes this look like one big set up.
I see the emergence of a new business model: savvy online merchants expediting surf wax, energy bars, sunscreen and water bottles into the lineup.
I'm skeptical too. Look around the 0.53 to 0.55 sec mark, old mate without a wetty has fins on and is hammering along just fine.
My point exactly Stu
Alas I'm with you Stu. Too much life in those kicking legs. If they were gone, you'd see it.
Besides the point two panicking boys in trouble in the surf something drops out of the sky and inflates and they swim straight over and grab it knowingly. No WTF where did that come from?
yes agree with all of the above and they say 700 meters offshore.....more like a hundred and 3 meter swell looks to me about 4-5 ft probably shot on another day i would say......but great idea,shame about the bullshit.
'Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), more popularly known as drones, are increasingly employed to monitor and protect wildlife. But researchers writing in the Cell Press journal Current Biology on May 23 say that steps should be taken to ensure that UAV operations are not causing undue stress to animals.
In our experience, the vast majority of UAV users, both biologists and hobbyists, do not want to disturb wildlife and will often seek advice from experts," Hodgson says. "However, in some cases, users may be unaware that their UAV operations could be causing considerable and unnecessary disturbance.'
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160523125855.htm
And if they were truly struggling and inexperienced they wouldn't swim in towards the impact zone with the swell. They'd be freaking and just hanging out the back with the floaty waiting to get rescued. Suss as.
Old mate is in the drone business, but I am sure he wouldn't be cynical enough to pull a stunt like that to drive up business.
I remember a number of years ago a certain SLS state body responded to an early morning drowning by magnanimously - and very publicly - offering "free" early morning patrols during a particular busy period when there may or may not have been thousands of schoolies (and lots of media) in town.
Then on that fateful first morning when the press were all present, cameras were all rolling and the self-indulgent sense of civil duty was red-lining, lo and behold! a swimmer (Japanese from memory) outside the newly erected flags suddenly got distressed and urgently required rescuing by the eagle-eyed and ever-so-fortunately-on-the-spot lifesavers. Thank goodness!! Certainly the word on the street (and within the movement itself) is it was a set-up.
Without even seeing the video that was my first thought when I read this article. They have form :)
Haven’t watched the video but 700m off shore?!? Hahahha
There will be much more promotion of drones in future...this is one quest that they will win over..... as a shark spotting device.......
This could become very popular and rightly so .....for safety and for survival. ...
People still must learn about disturbances to wildlife...endangered bird species...Scaring them away is not acceptable !
Absolutely this is a set up. The Surf Lifesaving PR department work a lot harder than their patrols.
A few years ago, I was on the beach at a drowning event. Surfers saved 6 people and 1 unfortunately drowned. Surf Lifesaver arrived on the scene very late and then their spokesperson tried to claim credit for the rescue. This was at a known drowning hotspot and their response time was woeful. The Surf Lifesaving PR guy looked very sheepish when journos started asking tricky questions like "who actually performed the rescue" and "why did it take life savers so long to reach the scene".
Just wait, these empire builders will now be using this footage to get some more funding for crap like row boats and paddle skis. Sports gear that is completely impractical to save actual lives. rant over.
Yep the SLSC is the same up our way the only thing they manage to save on any given weekend is the last sausage on their BBQ from my dog, all while polishing their jetskis after acting like our western sydney brothers and cutting sick in da waves bro. The proffesional lifeguards are watermen. The rest (kids aside) are just sad competative control freaks
So the pecking order of who you want to rescue you is: pro lifeguard, fit surfer, unfit surfer, the 16 year old bloke who is in the SLS club for a perv, the fat control freak in the sluggos who works in finance or the legal profession.
Ha ha ha!- pretty much.
Battered Boys never raised an eyebrow! Westpac Little Ripper never had to rescue them!
Several beach shots at the time call out the "10 ft" swell to be more a dwindling 3 ft surf.
Same Shots reveal other swimmers nearby with half a dozen Boardriderz 100mtrs away
Ask why they all talked down any chance of a paddle/jetski rescue.(Rescue crew aborted?)
Bogus Bikini Girls guess Boys needed all the help in the world..'As one can see' NOT!
All note the sand plume revealing waistdeep sandbar & whitewater trail constant to shore.
I back fellow Swellnetonians in calling this out.
Truebluebasher is disgusted by fellow Baby Basherz sham rescue.
Troubled Teens ditch a fair wave to shore? C'mon! You see them kick off the bank.
Our Divas had enough surf product to to assist in other rescues.
Apology to all Skegz/Lifeguards Worldwide as Baby Basherz are not big enough to own up.
I'm guessing that certain someone's Dad, minds the Pollie's beach towels.
This sham melted my TV last night..1,2,3 now endless Newspaper puff pieces.
Pollie Press Releases were ready printed before dawn seemingly before rescue.
That call comes from Top Down
Hero Award: I nominate Drone Pilot for Biggest Heroic Life Saving medal...Don't be shy!
Logies Award: Most pissweak ham acting in a sham rescue. 'The ladz'
Best Director: NSW Poliies for best Hoax of 2018.
Biggest Fattest Liars Award: The Whole Crew for 'World First' Drone Rescue Scam trial thingy.
[Old News]:France has used Surf Lifesaving Drones since 2016 (50 rescue/assists in 1st year)
'Drone lifesaver drops flotation device to swimmers in peril'
December 16, 2014 5:53pm
Aaron LangmaidHerald Sun
'LIFESAVING drones could rescue swimmers in distress in a hi-tech pitch to reduce drownings across Australia.'
'In the same way cardiac defibrillators were now accessible in supermarkets, Mr Lowe said there was potential for drones to be available at popular beaches or dangerous surf spots.
Drones have drawn the ire of authorities in major cities worldwide for invading commercial airspace or creating privacy issues.
But Mr Lowe said the lifesaving concept showed the devices had a far more beneficial use. In some cases drones are being used to drop medical supplies in remote regions or help firefighters battle major blazes.
Fitted with a Stormy Australia flotation device, the 550 Hexicopter is just 55cm wide and after its modification, would cost around $2500.'
Funny that, this is in 2014 or just over
3 years ago !
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/drone-lifesaver-drops-flotatio...
No quote from the boys rescued. I wonder why? Surely there would be some documentation that recorded their names, injuries, addresses etc. It would be interesting to cross-reference the rescuees names with members of the local surf lifesaving clubs.
According to news reports elsewhere, the swimmers were Gabe Vidler and Monty Greenslade, whilst the lifesaver flying the drone was Jai Sheridan (incidentally, he was awarded the 2017 'Lifesaver of the Year').
Two young fit local blokes. That's more than a bit unusual. I've rescued six people in the surf down this way, and they've all been from Melbourne or OS and every single one of them has been very overweight. Never rescued anyone with flippers on too.
There's a few videos of these chaps looking quite competent in the surf on the internet. It would be pretty sweet if some enterprising journo could do a little digging on this one. SLSC have a few questions to answer.
PR scam for sure as the comments above describe. Except one other aspect, did anyone see this...?
First news footage I saw was a video shot from above the said drone dropping the device to the so called victims..what the hell was a second drone/chopper doing hovering above the one that dropped the device.
This needs to be called out for what it was, bullshit. Absolutely no credibility at all.
Why they could not just come clean and just show the capabilities, but no, they treat us like fools and we, as surfers have no time for these wankers pissing public funds up the wall.
More fake news from fake news networks
We are having an early mullet run, I would not be so hasty to trial this at the moment. But then again it was only for a few minutes. I would be more impressed watching the drone open an esky and take a coldy way down the beach to an awaiting thirsty beach fisherman.
The boys were interviewed on channel 7 and said they were "confident" at the time they were rescued. One of their mates spoke to a lifeguard who then took the opportunity to deploy the drone. So a set up? Probably not. Opportunistic? Make your own judgement.
Heard the same from someone in the club. Not a set up, but the kids weren't in trouble and it was not necessary.
The general public are eating it up though.
sounds like the lads suckered the cubbies for 15 min of fame and now they are all playing the fake news game.
nick c is saying he is out to expose it over on Realsurf
correction i think it was on beach grit
thermalben gave the game away...
Don't need Poirot to match a photo of a lad to his dad.
Fair to say one of the Dads organizes the Sports in the town. Surfing in the mix as well.
No Names! Pollies be penned in his diary. The boys do a trick/The Club gets another brick.
Comes unstuck when you invite the world to the town. Who could've guessed?
{truebluebasher correction} (Several beach shots)mentioned not necessarily at rescue time.
Nevertheless large 10 ft Surf was clearly abating to 3ft with residing wave action...
Fair Cop! A local Lennox Heads community service [ANNOUNCEMENT]
WIN TV. [WARNING] (Friday/19/Jan 2018)Lake Ainsworth is CLOSED. (Sounds a bit harsh)
swear i just saw a SLSC add at top of this page???
There's an ad requesting donations to the SLS movement on this site. How about Fuck off and buy your own sports equipment. Have a look at your average SLS club. 95% beach sports equipment, cafes, bars, pokies, and 5% actual life saving equipment.
SLSA are just a pack of tax payer funded empire builders. If you want to save lives, invest in professional lifesavers and not the beach sports clubs pretending to do a community service.
I love a bloke with an eye for a sacred cow Vic Local and they don't come much bigger than the SLSC. The main service they provide locally is hot rodding around the place in their rubber duckies and jet skis, which strange as it might seem, the professional lifeguards never seem to need to do.
Australia's three biggest sacred cows are the RSL, SLSA, and state based rural volunteer fire fighting organisations. All three run by some of the biggest shocks in the country.
There is a fundamental lack of integrity in our society in current times, and this is one of several examples that highlight it
vic you forgot religious organisations although the SLSC enjoys about the same, if not more, political protection from any form of criticism.
Needs a full blown 4Corners job but it will never happen as I swear they have the pope wearing their dickhead caps
Sacrifice your minors as drone bait 700 mtrs out into the heavy surf.
Struggling against the sweep,exhausted by strong currents & distressed by the 10 ft swell.
You then abort the tried true rescue plan to chance the lads luck with a toy spaceship.
All to enable NSW Pollies to bag elusive 101st world drone surf rescue title. Great Headline!
I'd say someones going to Court of United Nations then Jail then Parenting School.
Drones have been in the bad books lately but if used respectfully they are very useful tools . Like cars n drivers he says here in in the article below
More bad publicity for Drones
2017-10-17 | FlyHigh - Roger
https://www.flyhighimaging.com/single-post/2017/10/17/More-bad-publicity...
Here's an example of drone news reports with the bad reputations.
The Wider Problem: Negative Drone Stories Sell
"The problem that policy experts and communications directors working in the drone industry are going to have to get used to is this: negative drone stories sell. Dangerous drones make for great headlines. Fear gets clicks."
"That’s a shame, especially considering the positive industry stories that have come to light in recent months. Drones really can save lives, whether they are delivering medical supplies in Rwanda, defibrillators in Sweden or searching for survivors on the top floors of burning apartment blocks in London."
https://dronelife.com/2017/07/10/media-drones-negative-bbc-stories/
The bad press is from deviate drone pilots, there is a lot of reports of drones disturbing humans and animals.
"Site owner Charlie Harris said he feared a paedophile may have been filming the kids. Cops are trying to trace the pilot.
He said: “A drone was flown over and was seen to be filming our guests, including naked and semi-naked children, that were staying in the field.
“They were horrified. The drone was being flown erratically and could have caused serious injury. They were filmed for at least 25 minutes.
“It is illegal to film children without parental permission and a huge invasion of privacy to our guests, who were hosting a private birthday party.”
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4013924/perv-flies-camera-equipped-drone-o...
"Shocking new statistics show drones being used illegally has gone up TEN times over three years as the popularity of the devices booms.
The fresh revelation comes just weeks after a Daily Star Online investigation found drones are being used to obtain illicit videos – including intimate moments between couples.
The "voyeur clips" are then shared on porn websites.
The new figures have emerged after a Freedom of Information Act request found drones are being used to peer into people's private lives.
It includes female victims complaining of flying drones near windows which appear to be trying to film them.
But what is most startling is how quickly the drones have been turned from novelty gadgets to a tool used by seedy sex pests.
Make sure you can see your drone at all times and don't fly higher than 400 feet.
"Always keep your drone away from aircraft, helicopters, airports and airfields.
"Use your common sense and fly safely; you could be prosecuted if you don't.
"Drones fitted with cameras must not be flown within 50 metres of people, vehicles, buildings or structures or in over congested areas or large gatherings such as concerts and sports events."
The problem of deviant drones is getting so bad a Brit company has developed a shoulder-held bazooka which can battle rogue copters flown by weirdos and sex pests has hit the market."
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/504109/drone-perverts-naked...
--------------------------------------------
WATCH: 'Drone catcher' shoots out nets like Spider-Man to down voyeur perv's flying gizmos.
"A NEW shoulder-held bazooka which can battle rogue drones flown by weirdos and sex pests has hit the market."
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/499732/Drone-catcher-Openwo...
The potential for terrorism?
"Among myriad concerns is the potential for a rogue drone operator to attack at a public event — given their ability to release potentially dangerous materials from a height.
"In the wrong hands what could that do over the MCG on a Grand Final day?" said Senator Sterle.
"Now I know it sounds alarmist but this is the sort of stuff that we as a nation should be absolutely forefront in our minds.
"We can't even tell who even owns these drones, that is the problem. There is no compulsory requirement that these things are identifiable."
Another issue is the potential use of drones by criminals to stake-out people's houses.
Corrective Services NSW has labelled drones an emerging issue, with a recent case at Lithgow prison in which a drone was caught on CCTV dropping what appears to be contraband.
"Firefighting, sea search and rescue and agriculture — no problem — we want to support that part of the drone requirements," he said.
"But by the same token we cannot put our hand over one eye and say 'she'll be right, nothing to see here, move along'."
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-02/drone-stalking-several-women-in...
Even bears are disturbed by drones ;
"The team observed a sharp rise in bear heart rate with every single flyover. In many cases, cardiac pace doubled, and in the most extreme instance, the heart rate for a mother bear with cubs hopped from 41 to 162 beats per minute. Another mother bear experienced a similar incline, suggesting moms are extra sensitive to drone intrusion.
The bears seemed more startled in windy conditions, suggesting that they couldn’t hear the approach of the drones until very late. It took about 10 minutes for bear heart rates to return to normal, though in one case, the bear’s heartbeat didn’t relax for 3.5 hours.
“The incredible change in heart rate is by far the most interesting result of the study,” said University of Wyoming zoologist Jerod Merkle who specializes in bear behavior but wasn’t involved in the study. “An increased heart rate is indicative of bears getting themselves ready for a fight or flight response.”
Merkle says when this happens, an animal’s body is secreting stress hormones, like adrenaline, into the blood, so the animal can act fast if necessary. However, just like with humans, he continues, persistent exposure to stress hormones can be detrimental to health.
The bears didn’t often exhibit fight-or-flight behavior. Only two flyovers caused the bears to dramatically shift their movements. In one case, a bear ran faster than the scientists had ever seen her move at any other time period, Another bear wandered beyond her typical home range, invading another bear’s territory.
“If you completely bolt from an area that you’re used to living in, it could open you up to forms of mortality, whether it’s crossing a bunch of roads or a competitor.
Some government agencies are taking notice too. In 2014, the U.S. National Park Service banned all public use of UAVs within park boundaries after a drone scattered a herd of big horn sheep in Zion National Park, separating lambs from their moms. And the Park Service wasn’t kidding around. One violator was reportedly tased and arrested in April for flying a drone in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
“Several ecotourism businesses already decided to ban the use of drones on their tours/cruises, and I am very much in support of this strategy,” Grémillet said.
Merkle also recommends that drones be flown with zoom lenses and the highest elevation possible to keep from disturbing wildlife.
“If you are flying your UAV over a wild animal and feel as if you are not disturbing the animal, you likely are still causing harm via a stress response,” Merkle said. “We must take as many precautions as necessary."
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/even-bears-annoyed-drones
Excellent eddiewouldgo!..Prophecy of the Flymo Pandemic.
Swellnet Scoop! (Our World First Thingy)
As stated above France have been operating real surf drone rescues since 2016/17 seasons.
French deploy Drones with self-inflating surfmat that docks into Jet Ski . So Sexy/So French!
Together in TB2 fashion they return to beach.
What you are about to read takes much group planning and doesn't just happen.
Turns out SLSA needed 2 just right, inside contenders to pull off hoax record attempt.
Fit enough to get out the back/Competent to fool viewers/Able enough to return to shore. Many here sussed out odd summer surf product combo of Wettie on one/ Flippers the other.
Well done fellow Swellnetonians you exposed the hoax....Here's how it plays out...
To us, the Lads are swanning around but landlubberz bought the gig- hook line & sinker.
Drone drops package to lad with wettie.(Pause) Drone delays drop to square up this kid?
Note: OZ version is sponsored by Caryard's Wavy Hotairman.( WTF is that?)....Anyone Please!
No way a bare slippery sunscreen arm can clutch it.(Wettie lad is the target/A fail safe grab).
This takes out any clown routine video of 2nd & 3rd grabs...(Agreed)
Ok! So clever Swellnetonians have already worked out the rest.
The 2nd stronger kicking lad's flippers are then deployed to steer mental pool toy ashore.
Each boy a set task to nurse the alien beast ashore. As said above...Made it look so so easy?
Yet no video shows the boys making landfall/alone or other? How is it an official anything?
Add that Lifesaver of the year runs out of batteries at Australia's finest hour?
We never see the start or finish and the little we do see is fixed.
Between French and Oz drone rescues there is a Huge Point of difference!
In Oz World First the Lifesaver no longer needs to leave the esky.
Toss the rescue boards, call off the nippers & halve the lifesavers on patrol ! (Pollie wankfest)
Less Tin Rattling = Less Equipment = More Club space = more Pokies = More Beer.(That easy)
Surf Clubs are rezoned away from utility to sports club leisure gaming Skyscraper ammenity.
Well done all. A deplorable scam involving Pollies/frontline/minors. (A Worldwide Hoax it is!)
As I’m sure lots of people here have experienced rescuing half drowned swimmers is a bloody frustrating task. They are absolutely useless at holding on to a board, either because they are half drowned or freaking out or both, Can’t see them grabbing an inflated tube and surfing that sucker in!
https://i.stuff.co.nz/travel/news/97629701/drones-the-annoying-gadgets-t...
"I hate drones. And not just because the military-owned ones kill people. The smaller, peace-loving drones are still one of the teeth-gratingly annoying things becoming too-common at tourist sites.
Buzzing about, ruining what's left of the ambience and the chance to grab a nice picture. Always just a stone's throw away – or just beyond a stone's throw, as I never seem to hit them.
And it seems I'm not alone, just last week the authorities that look after New York City's Statue of Liberty joined a growing list of haters of drones."
Drones are behind a recent surge in crimes ranging from spying on neighbours to smuggling banned items into prisons.
In one instance a man reported that he suspected his neighbour was flying a drone "just to annoy him".
In another case an a man threatened to shoot down an "annoying" drone with an air rifle.
Meanwhile several members of the public have contacted their local force to raise concerns that drones were being used for snooping. In one instance, a device was said to have been flown over a garden repeatedly while girls were sunbathing.
Alarmingly criminals are also suspected of using drones to "scope out" properties ahead of break-ins. In one case, a burglary was reported after a drone was seen hovering over houses, while in others residents contacted police to report suspicions.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/04/02/rowing-neighbours-reporting-p...
A NEW shoulder-held bazooka which can battle rogue drones flown by weirdos and sex pests has hit the market.
The system can be rapidly reloaded, allowing multiple drone threats to be engaged by a single operator.
https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/499732/Drone-catcher-Openwo...
'The rescue drones were only unveiled at Lennox Head Thursday morning, as part of a collaboration between Surf Life
Saving NSW and the State Government. The Government announced last month it would invest $430,000 in drone technology as part of a trial on the NSW north coast.'
$ 430,000 worth of drones technology
The sky is a battlefield of drones... watch out below !
It know turns out that the drone itself caused the boys to panic - they thought the drone was trying to warn them of a shark and to get out of the water as quickly as possible. They where surprised when it dropped the inflatable so powered over to it and in quickly.....to escape the shark that wasn't there.
Meanwhile Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer has been talking about this great victory on LinkedIN. Strange how it coincides with Westpac ads on their support of rescue choppers and their sponsorship of the......you guessed it......Little Ripper drone.
Hero Drone takes a Dive. Hoax minors one patrol away from being sushi.
Clubbie Pilots knew Drone was dodgy. Clubbie says it wasn't a proper rescue.
Well Well Well & Well!
(16/2/2016 - 27/9/2016) Little Ripper Senior was fond of flipping out.
One day switched to manual and flew off with the $1/4 m to Coral Sea Tax Haven.
Wanted Posters in bottles thru-out Pacific.
(3/10/2016) Little Ripper Junior was caught upskirting Helicopters at local Airport. N'Not Me!
March/2017 Little Ripper Junior's ways convinced CASA to open Clubbie Drone Academy
[P] Platers not a years experience ready for World Rescue Hoax . Clubbie says not proper!
Clubbies now admit Little Ripper Junior had a few Screws Lose.(Manufacture Problems)
Knowing that! Minors sent out or in pretend trouble were denied best practice rescue.
Despite CASA banning drones over people. Clubbies hover known Dodgy 20kg+ Death Trap.
(Slippery Sam the Wavy car salesman~Banana boat mode#) stole Little Ripper Jr's thunder.
Public hadn't stop laughing at that bent out of shape stoner banana. Then came sad news!
Very next outing Little Ripper Jr takes a kamikaze sea dive.
Monty too I'd say but mostly Gabe just dodged a bullet.Surely not too young for lotto ticket.
R.I.P. Little Ripper Junior + Senior ... Now $1/2m thrown in the ocean. Love a good Trial!
Clubbies know truebluebasher salutes all lifeguards always! Best wishes thru- season's end.