The flags are back!

If anything says let’s celebrate our freedom, it’s the lifesaving equipment back on our beaches keeping our swimmers safe.

It’s a welcome sight, so too are the lifeguards who look after the beach during the week and April to August on week-ends, and the volunteer lifesavers who look after you every weekend from September to March.

One such lifeguard is Liam Toohey, who caught a jet ski this week while going about his life-saving duties.

A distressed visitor drove back to the patrol tower at the beach and announced he had fallen off his jet ski in the lagoon near Double Island Point and while he was okay, he had not been able to catch it.

After consultation with the police, Liam organised another lifeguard to look after the beach while he took off on the patrol jet ski and found the vehicle near the Wide Bay Bar out from Inskip Point.

As it was going to be a safety risk and a liability for the emergency services if not rescued immediately, Liam was given permission to retrieve the jet ski and return it to the owner.

While the ‘kill’ switch had worked, with the strong winds and currents that day, the $7500 ski had travelled very quickly and the owner was lucky to have it back in working order.

Liam said: “While this story had a happy ending, it’s imperative you know your craft, know the conditions, use common sense and know the rules.

“The end of Double Island Point is an official Go Slow area, yet visitors ignore the rules. Jet skis are great as a rescue craft, but as a recreation vehicle, few are trained to use them properly.”