A young woman exploring the rocks below Tasman Drive suffered a broken leg and had to be stabilised on site before being stretchered to safety and Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club is concerned at the increase in serious coastal rescues at the picturesque spot which attracts people looking for scenic social media images.

Club Captain Simon Sadler believes the growing popularity of locations like Tasman Drive, amplified by social media, is bringing more visitors who may not understand local beach and ocean risks.

Long-time members of the Surf Life Saving Club say they’ve never seen so many serious rescues in such a short period. Sadler agrees. The past 12 months have been unusually intense.

“We’ve had five really significant rescues. That’s more than I’ve ever seen. People are coming down in huge numbers, often for a quick photo and then moving on.

"And sometimes, they end up in dangerous places they don’t realise are dangerous,” he said.

The latest rescue unfolded between Boat Harbour Pool and North Werri Pool, just metres from the cliffs beneath Tasman Drive. Emergency crews, including the SES and ambulance service, responded quickly and worked together like clockwork.

The helicopter brought in a doctor and landed with extraordinary precision on the narrow rock platform.

“He was unbelievable,” Sadler said. “To land in those conditions, right there on the rocks, it was something else.”

Sadler and fellow lifesaver Mark Booth were among the first to reach the woman, who had slipped on the rocks and suffered a broken leg.

“She was with her mum and brother, visiting from China,” Sadler said. “They were incredibly humble and grateful.

"We used a translation app to communicate. It showed just how important it is that we do more to help people feel safe and informed, especially if English isn’t their first language.”

Sadler recalled another incident where a group of visitors walked down from Tasman Drive and unknowingly placed themselves directly in a rip.

“They had basically parked themselves in the rip at the south end of Werri Beach,” he said.

Gerringong SLSC is now actively looking at how to expand its educational role.

Most of its interventions are low-key, quiet conversations encouraging people to swim between the flags.

But the club is exploring new, culturally respectful ways to share safety messages with the growing diversity of beach visitors.

“It’s people from everywhere, people from overseas, people from Western Sydney, many of whom didn’t grow up with the ocean. Some don’t even realise where the rips are. We’ve got an opportunity and a responsibility to meet them where they are,” Sadler said.

That might mean partnerships with Western Sydney councils, more translated material, or simple video content shared through the same platforms drawing people to the coast in the first place.

“This is about adapting. If our coastline is going to be more popular than ever, we need to make safety just as visible as the views,” Sadler said.