Topping up the New Year's Day celebrations with alcohol could cost you your life.
That's the message NSW Police want revellers to remember as lifesavers went to the rescue of drunken swimmers.
"Drink driving, drink riding, drink swimming, drink boating - any of these could cost you your life," police said on Thursday.
"The party might be continuing for you, but make sure it doesn't end up in a police station or hospital."
The message came as life savers were kept busy with New Year's Eve revellers flocking to beaches across the state.
"Five callouts for rescues already for intoxicated swimmers," Surf Life Saving NSW tweeted about 12.30pm.
"Busy day on beaches."
Surf Life Saving NSW spokeswoman Donna Wishart said it was lucky there had been no fatalities.
Three heavily intoxicated people were rescued from Tallows Beach, south of Byron Bay, including a 34-year-old man who was taken to hospital after swallowing too much water.
Spinal injuries have also been common on Thursday, as the surf picked up, Ms Wishart said.
"There's been a reasonably powerful shore dump on the beaches," she said.
"They'll come off body boards or surf boards, then hit their head on the sand."
There have been 15 major incidences across the NSW, with Bondi and Maroubra beaches the busiest.
Share
