By Samantha Lock

Artificial intelligence is being rolled out across some of the most hazardous stretches of Australia’s coastline to help curb drownings.

The new camera technology seeks to detect whether someone has been swept off a rock platform into the sea, alerting rescuers in real time.

The technology has already resulted in a rescue during a 14-month trial at two high-risk sites along the NSW coast – Little Bay and Kiama Blowhole.

Cameras captured footage of fishermen swept off rocks and into the sea during a heavy swell at Malabar on Sydney’s eastern beaches, with a jet ski dispatched to pull them from the water.

Surf Life Saving NSW, the authority behind the project, says the technology is primarily designed to help prevent rock fishing tragedies.

The recreational sport has accounted for 201 deaths across Australia in the past 20 years.

Ten per cent – or 22 of those deaths – occurred in the single local government area of Randwick, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, while five rock fishers lost their lives on one beach in the tiny stretch of coastline at Little Bay.

AI-enabled cameras work to identify when someone is washed off the rocks or enters the water unexpectedly, alerting lifesavers and emergency services.

Cameras capture continuous video feeds, with Surf Life Saving alerted when an emergency event is identified.

Post-incident data will be used to refine the AI and train the technology to detect people in trouble as it happens.

The trial, jointly funded by the federal government, is part of the NSW government’s $23 million four-year investment in Surf Life Saving NSW.

Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said the technology was already saving lives.

“Technology like this (is) helping better direct emergency services to people in danger,” he said in a statement on Saturday.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce said rock fishing remained one of the highest-risk activities along Australia’s coast.

“Using AI to detect when someone gets washed off the rocks and being able to keep them in sight once in the water means we can respond so much sooner to perform a rescue,” he said.