Australian actor, filmmaker and former lifesaver Angus Sampson has hit the stunning golden sands of Woonona Beach in a safety advertising campaign to save men's lives.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The almost two-minute long Surf Life Saving ad features Sampson walking along the sand, as he encourages people to make safety a priority when visiting the coastline this summer.
Last year, 150 people drowned along Australia's coastline, all occurred outside patrolled areas. Men accounted for 86 per cent of the drownings.
The opening scene of the ad filmed under grey and gloomy skies is a tight, close-up shot of Angus wearing a crisp white shirt, black tuxedo and bow tie, his long dark hair blowing in the wind.
"Calm, chaotic, compellingly unpredictable. No, not just me, our oceans too," he says looking down the lens of the camera.
The camera pans out and he's standing on Woonona Beach - white shirt and tux on his top half, fluorescent pink boardshorts on his bottom half and bare feet.
As he walks along the beach towards the camera, he talks about volunteer lifesavers' commitment to saving lives and shares beach safety tips, as lifesavers rush back and forward on patrol and undertaking mock rescues.
The final scene shows a Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter paramedic hooking him up to be airlifted away.
As Angus looks to the camera he shares one final message: "Let's give these legends a hand. Make sure, before you go into the water, stop, look and stay alive".
As part of the safety campaign, SLSA teamed up with Qantas to unveil a new virtual training platform for the community called Beach Passport.
Beach Passport is a mobile or online course that will provide the public with basic water safety knowledge. It will be free and available to every Australian citizen and visitor and is available at beachpassport.org.au.
Nadine Morton
I report on crime, emergency services and police matters. Email me on nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
