A surf life saving drone has saved two swimmers caught in heavy surf from drowning. The swimmers aged 15 and 17 got into trouble on the New South Wales coast near Lennox Head. Australian surf lifesavers were in the middle of flight training when the two were spotted 700m out to sea. Within minutes the pilot had the drone above the troubled swimmers and deployed the buoyancy device. Both swimmers were able to reach the beach safely.
“Never before has a drone fitted with a flotation device been used to rescue swimmers like this,” said Deputy Premier of New South Wales John Barilaro.