Rock fishing safety courses target CALD communities following deaths in Kurnell

Jeiquen Qin remembers when her friend died while fishing at North Bondi in Sydney’s east about a decade ago.

“His friends tried to save him and jumped into the water. But the waves were too high,” Ms Qin told ABC Radio Sydney through an interpreter.

Mrs. Qin’s son-in-law goes rock fishing every week, so she wanted to learn how to do it safely.

On Friday, she attended a safety demonstration on surfing and rock fishing at Kurnell in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, along with dozens of other Mandarin-speaking Sydney residents.

A couple smiles neutrally as they stand in a park near the ocean — Jeiquen Qin (right) and her husband Honglie Chen attended the final safety session. (ABC Radio Sydney: Declan Bowring)

The dangers of rock fishing were highlighted earlier in May this year when two young international students were washed off the rocks at the same spot.

The men were from Nepal and were not wearing life jackets.

Their deaths sparked an effort to hold rock fishing safety classes targeting Sydney residents from CALD communities including Nepalese, Chinese, Bangladeshi and Ukrainian people.

A man falls from rocks into the water while wearing a life jacket for a demonstration — Instructors emphasized the importance of a properly fitting life jacket. (ABC Radio Sydney: Declan Bowring)

The sessions were led by Advance Diversity Services, Surf Life saving NSW and Sutherland Shire Council lifeguards.

“It is widely recognized that rock fishing is one of, if not the most dangerous sporting activities in Australia,” says Mike Anderson of Surf Life saving NSW.

Attendees were educated on the need for life jackets, demonstrated by a lifeguard who deliberately fell into the water while wearing one.

A man holds a photo of a beach asking: "Can you spot the crack?" — Participants also learned about beach safety, such as spotting rips and swimming between the flags. (ABC Radio Sydney: Declan Bowring)

Of the 19 people who drowned while rock fishing across the country last year, 80 percent were men and 70 percent of them were born overseas, according to a report by Royal Life Saving Australia.

One statistic that stands out is that 100 percent of all people who drowned while rock fishing were not wearing a life jacket.

A man in sunglasses standing on the rocks at the seaside — Mike Anderson says rock fishing can be extremely dangerous. (ABC Radio Sydney: Declan Bowring)

“People born overseas see rock fishing as a quintessential Australian pastime, but are simply unaware of the risks associated with it,” Anderson said.

Wearing life jackets in designated rock fishing areas is required by law under the Rock Fishing Act 2016, and non-compliance can result in a $100 fine.

Sutherland a ‘difficult’ location for rescue operations

Cape Solander’s remoteness, steep cliffs and large waves make it a dangerous place for rescue attempts.

A man in a wide-brimmed hat gestures to a crowd — Cameron Pyett (centre) says it is difficult to access some parts of the Sutherland Shire coast to carry out rescues. (ABC News: Declan Bowring)

Cameron Pyett, who works with lifeguards in the shire, said it is important people understand how tough a rescue in remote locations can be.

“For us, it often takes some time to reach these remote locations, which makes it difficult,” he said.

“By car it’s probably five to 10 minutes, by jet ski it would be the same.

“The places where they fish on rocks are extremely dangerous.”

The water is ‘completely different’

Advance Diversity Advisor Rishi Acharya has been involved in water security activities for the Nepalese community since 2012.

He said people from Nepal were more familiar with fast-flowing river water than Australia’s still lakes and rivers.

A man sits at a table — Rishi Acharya wants more regular ocean safety sessions in language for Nepali arrivals. (Supplied: Rishi Acharya)

“The nature of the river is completely different,” Mr Acharya said.

“Here the river is very big and the water is not flowing.

“You have to push yourself and then you’re tired and then you’re drowning.”

In Royal Life Saving’s drowning report, Nepal was among the top three countries where foreign-born drowning victims came from, the others being China and India.

Mr Acharya said he would like to see more regular safety sessions in the language for newcomers.

“These types of events should be organized all year round, at least four or five times a year,” he said.