Patrols would not help, says mayor

‘It’s not a swimming beach; it’s unsafe and putting a patrol in would encourage people to swim there,’ Mrs Roberts said.

Mr Papaioannou said his club patrolled from the north side of Mindarie Marina to the dog beach.

‘I would encourage people to swim on this side (north of the marina) it’s safer and patrolled,’ he said.

Mrs Roberts, amid a throng of Mindarie residents supporting Sunday’s rescue, said the drowning was ‘very, very sad’. ‘Our heart goes out to the family,’ she said.

‘I acknowledge the quick response from the emergency services and Quinns Mindarie lifesavers, along with the community, including young surfers using local knowledge.’ Quinns Mindarie member Taylor Kendall (18) was one of the lifesavers who searched in vain on Sunday for 13-year-old Jenon George Biwot before police divers found his body before noon on Monday.

‘I went out with fins’