Byron Bay plans new $1100 ‘hipster’ fine

In February this year, resident and former pro surfer Mathew Cassidy “nearly bled out on the beach” and almost lost his arm after another surfer dropped in on him at Wategos Beach without a functioning leg-rope.

The surfer’s loose board launched out of the swell and hit Mr Cassidy’s arm, causing extensive injuries including severed arteries.

Beachgoers sprung into action, with Mr Cassidy instructing them how to make a tourniquet and then holding it in place for a harrowing hour before emergency services arrived to take him to hospital.

Thankfully, Mr Cassidy’s arm was saved and he has since recovered from the ordeal that almost claimed his life.

Taking to Facebook two days after the harrowing incident, Mr Cassidy shared his gratitude for those who came to his aid.

“Without you I would have bled out in five minutes. You somehow kept tourniquets in place for an hour. You saved my life,” he said.

He also thanked those who kept him “conscious and focused” as well as the “first responders, the emergency teams, the doctors, the nurses and the specialists”, as well as his friends and family.

“I’m not out of the woods yet but I’m alive and that’s what counts,” he added.

He recently told Nine newspapers his near-death experience proved the dangers of out-of-control boards and the “hipster” habit of avoiding leg ropes.

Now, as a result of Mr Cassidy’s injuries, Byron Shire Council is considering banning surfing without leg ropes, with councillor Cate Coorey putting forward the motion that would include a whopping $1100 fine for breaches.

The issue is being debated at today’s council meeting, with Councillor Cate Coorey stating in supporting information that the issue had come to the council’s attention once again as a result of Mr Cassidy’s “recent, serious accident”.

“Media interest always surrounds these events, and they could become preventable with some community education and enforcement. People are looking to Byron to take the lead on this issue as we have tried in the past to address it with minimal success,” the statement reads.

“I believe that, in concert with our expressed desire to see more and increased application of fines to dog owners who have their dogs in locations that they shouldn’t have, the regulation of leg-ropes could be undertaken when compliance officers are in the beach areas.

“If we provide signage at key entry points to the beach, then there is justification to issue a fine. In the same way that issuing fines to dog owners is not without its challenges, it nevertheless should not preclude us from finding ways to create an enforcement notice and take enforcement action to show that we mean it.

“This is a long-held wish of residents, including the majority of the surfing fraternity, especially on our most crowded surf breaks.”

News.com.au contacted Byron Shire Council for comment.