An Australian researcher has concluded that surfers are saving as many people from drowning as volunteer surf lifesavers. Anna Attard, author of the study “Guardians of the Surf: The role and value of surfers in Australian beach and coastal surf rescues,” noted that surfers rescue 5000 people per year in patrolled (45 per cent) and unpatrolled (54 per cent) spots. “Surfers with prior water-safety training are more likely to perform a higher number of rescues, however ability to perform rescues is not associated with formal training but rather number of years’ experience surfing,” Attard told The Sydney Morning Herald.

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Surfers play a vital role in surf lifesaving

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