BYRON BAY surf lifesavers could soon be dropping pulsating “bombs” to scare off sharks as part of a hi-tech bid to protect swimmers and surfers on our beaches.
Lifesavers will be trained to fly drones carrying, among an arsenal of potentially lifesaving equipment, Shark Shield devices that emit electric pulses, which irritate a shark’s delicate senses and cause it to swim away.
From as early as next month the drones will begin flying at surf lifesaving clubs across the state and could eventually also be used by Life Guards.
Surf Life Saving NSW will first test the drones on the NSW North Coast, where two people died and several others were severely injured in shark attacks last summer.