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Thousands of people have flocked to celebrate Christmas Day at a Sydney beach party that has been hailed as a “pretty special” event, despite reports of injuries and assault.
Police at the Bronte Beach event rushed to assist a man who suffered serious head injuries after he reportedly slipped while trying to jump off a cliff into the ocean pool.
A medical team was dispatched by helicopter and the man in his 20s has been rushed to St Vincent’s hospital in a serious condition.
Police have also attended the scene of an alleged assault that left a man unconscious.
Attendees have taken to social media to call the Sydney beach party “mental” and “insane,” with one tourist comparing it to Rio’s Carnival.
An industrious DJ has set up his decks and speakers on the parkland, playing music for the crowds of sunbaking beachgoers.
Bondi Lines, a platform for real-time information on nightlife, reported that the event is “a staple” of Sydney’s Christmas offerings, particularly for expats.
The platform’s co-founder Callum Weatherall said the party has been around for years and is predominantly attended by expats and backpackers including “Irish and South American people away from home.”
“They don’t have family over here, and I think it’s pretty special for them to be able to come down to one of the nicest beaches here in Sydney to celebrate together, so we’re really supportive of it,” he said.
“A lot of our followers are from Ireland, the UK, South America. They don’t have the privilege of sitting around having Christmas lunch with everyone and still want to have a good time with other people.”
Attendees have been flowing to the spot all day in buses and cars, with local residents sharing views of the packed attraction from their scenic apartments.
Partygoers filmed festively attired police horses patrolling the crowds as the festivities stretched into the evening.
Police have been on site to monitor the crowds and ensure there isn’t any replication of the bad behavior at last year’s event that left the beach and surrounding area covered in broken glass, rubbish, and human waste.
Local business owner Fern Coop supported the Christmas Day party, saying that the council should work to “reduce the harm these parties add on our beaches,” including introducing additional toilet facilities, food trucks, rubbish collection, and crowd control.
“We actually can’t stop all these people getting there and I do think it’s a beautiful park for these guys to enjoy their Christmases,” she said.
However, the business owner remained concerned about the amount of litter the event produces, saying she “can only assume there’s going to be a lot of rubbish” on Boxing Day.
Fears after ‘disgusting’ bash last year
It comes after councils warned revelers planning to hit the beaches to act responsibly after huge crowds left Sydney’s Bronte Beach covered in trash last year.
The raucous Christmas party was slammed as the “worst ever” and “disgusting” by some residents, one of whom said it was “worse than a third-world country.”
Another said they felt “in danger” being near the event and it had made them want to move away from the pristine beach.
The celebrations have long been a mecca for thousands of tourists and backpackers traveling to Australia for a summer Christmas, but often draw the ire of locals.
Waverley Councillor Joshua Spicer took to social media to assure furious locals the council has taken action to ensure last year’s wild scenes are not replicated.
“This includes extra rangers, security, and police, a dedicated cleaning crew with more bins and waste trucks, extended lifeguard patrols, and specific measures for Bronte Park, such as crowd control pathways and temporary toilets,” he wrote on Facebook.
“This has been a key priority for us, and we’re confident these steps will make a big difference this year.”
Locals remained skeptical, with one commenting “Council and police won’t do anything about it.”
In a statement, Waverley Council said it would not tolerate anti-social behavior and had taken “a number of significant proactive measures to ensure our community can relax and enjoy the summer.”
“The safe enjoyment of our public and recreational spaces is our number one priority,” a spokesperson said.
“We encourage everyone to enjoy our beaches responsibly and safely, ensuring they remain a welcoming space for all.”
NSW Police said they would conduct high visibility patrols of Bondi, Tamarama, and Bronte Beaches “due to significant crowd numbers expected over the holiday period.”
A spokesperson said they were aware of a party planned at Bronte Beach for Christmas Day and have been working with organizers.
“There will be officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, assisted by specialist police, tasked to patrol the area to ensure the safety of visitors and manage crowd numbers,” they said.
“People are reminded to check and abide by designated alcohol-prohibited and/or alcohol-free zones in the area. Alcohol and water don’t mix.”
Police reminded people not to swim or drive boats when intoxicated and said they would have a “significant presence” on the roads and in the water over the holiday period.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said up to 100,000 visitors could be expected to flock to the council’s 40 picturesque beaches on Christmas Day, depending on the conditions.
“We are fortunate that the majority of our beachgoers are well-behaved,” she said.
“Council has rostered additional lifeguards across the festive season to assist and protect the beachgoers.
The various lifesaving clubs also roster additional volunteers to patrol the beaches.”
Ms Heins reminded beachgoers to be careful when swimming, hydrate on the beach, and protect the environment by disposing of trash.
“Your safety and enjoyment are our top priorities. Our goal is for everyone to return home safely after a memorable day on the Northern Beaches,” she said.
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