Closure prompts warning

The Penguin Island sandbar was closed to the public on Saturday, prompting warnings from lifeguards about the popular tourist spot’s safety.

Secret Harbour Surf Club captain Garry Williams said the club’s message on walking the sandbar to access the island was clear — do not do it, take the ferry instead.

An estimated 20,000 people walked to the island via the sandbar between September and May each year, Mr Williams said.

He said most felt confident in their swimming ability, but underestimated the strength of the afternoon undercurrents.

“Visitors often don’t realise how dangerous it can be,” he said.

“Tides are nice and flat in the morning but people tend to try to walk back across to the beach in late afternoon and that’s when they land themselves in trouble.”

“That’s why our most important message is just don’t risk it — take the ferry instead.”

Mr Williams said Secret Harbour’s volunteer lifesavers had put in more than 640 hours patrolling the beach and advising people against crossing.

He admitted surf lifesavers could not force people to take the ferry and many saw the crossing as a challenge.

“We have done extensive campaigning to warn people of the dangers of choosing to walk, particularly after the drowning of two tourists in 2010,” he said.

Lifeguards Craig Bowley and Daniel Andrew were on patrol on Saturday afternoon and closed the sandbar crossing on the advice of a council ranger.

Mr Bowley, Surf Lifesaving WA’s lifesaving operations supervisor, said despite the sandbar being inaccessible due to spring tides, about 700 people had made the crossing by ferry.

“During the school holidays, we maybe get up to about 1000 people a day,” he said.

“We use preventative measures to ensure people are kept safe.”

The Secret Harbour Lifesaving Club has produced warning brochures in multiple languages.

The ferry service distributes these to visitors to the island.