New drowning prevention technology to help save lives

The Lynxight system uses artificial intelligence to monitor movement in the water through CCTV cameras, enabling lifeguards to respond more quickly to potential drownings thanks to alerts sent to their smartwatches.

Aquamotion will be the second facility in WA to use the cutting-edge technology to combat blind spots caused by water glare, crowds, water surface disturbance and line of sight issues.

Mayor Linda Aitken said the technology would arm our hardworking lifeguards with new tools to keep pool users safe.

“Last year, Aquamotion attracted 371,000 visits, and with 2024 on track to be even busier, we are always looking for innovations in safety management,” she said.

“This technology will be extra eyes in the water at Aquamotion’s four pools, helping prevent drowning incidents and reduce the risk of serious injuries.

“It’s exciting to take another step forward in our Smart City journey and harness this technology to enhance safety for our community.”

Royal Life Saving Australia's General Manager Capability and Industry, RJ Houston, said data from AI-enhanced safety technologies could be applied to elevate existing practices and address challenges, making Australian aquatic facilities safer for everyone.

“While lifeguards play critical prevention and rescue roles, supervision in public swimming pools can be challenging,” he said.

“The potential of combining lifeguard expertise with enhanced technological approaches in coming years is exciting.”

According to Royal Life Saving Australia, in 2023 there were six drowning deaths, 18 non-fatal drowning incidents and more than 7,800 rescues in public swimming pools across the country.