Hoppo's safety message to Moreton Bay

Bondi Rescue lifeguard Bruce ‘Hoppo’ Hopkins has delivered an important summer safety message at two Moreton Bay aquatic centres.

With swim school GOswim, Hoppo is spearheading one of Australia’s largest water safety initiatives - Float to Survive with GOswim.

The award-winning campaign returns to equip 60,000 GOswim students with the knowledge to stay afloat in emergency situations.

For the first two weeks of December, more than 250,000 GOswim lessons across nearly 80 locations will begin with five minutes of float training, based on Hoppo’s five-step Float to Survive strategy:

1. Keep your head and mouth above water

2. Control your breathing

3. Spread your arms and legs for balance

4. Use a circular motion to maintain buoyancy

5. Signal for help

Hoppo’s first stop? Moreton Bay’s Burpengary Regional Aquatic Centre and Lawnton Aquatic Centre.

It came as data from Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia, shows a 36 per cent increase in drownings in Queensland compared to the 10-year average.

Most victims were male, with the highest fatalities among those aged over 75. Beach-related drowning deaths rose by 62 per cent.

At Burpengary and Lawnton, Hoppo demonstrated his five-step survival technique to classes from infants to older adults and Goswim teachers.

He also reinforced that drowning can happen to anyone, regardless of swimming ability.

“I’m stoked to have partnered with GOswim to reach tens of thousands of students with this lifesaving message, which is relevant to anyone, in any aquatic situation; whether it is in the surf, creek, river, lake or swimming pool,” Hoppo said.

“In the lead up to summer, this is a water safety skill that is
non-negotiable and I’m excited to get out and about to spread this
message to help Aussies learn how to stay safe in the water.”

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Cheryl Mclennan, National Aquatic Product Manager at Belgravia Leisure, says the return of the campaign couldn’t be more timely.

“While it’s disheartening to see the Queensland drowning statistics heading in the wrong direction, it’s also a wake-up call,” she said.

“There’s an urgent need for more education around water safety.

“I’m proud that Float to Survive with GOswim is diving into this challenge to help the next generation be better prepared for aquatic emergencies.”

The campaign was recently recognised by the Australian Swim Schools Association (ASSA), winning Gold for Marketing and Communications in Victoria.

It also earned a national commendation for boosting children’s water safety knowledge and confidence in open water by 20 per cent.