Australia issues warning to swimmers after four drown during Easter weekend
Four people have died after being washed into dangerous waters across the country.
The incidents have prompted surf lifesavers to issue warnings against swimming during hazardous conditions over the Easter long weekend.
A man drowned at City Rock Road, Green Cape on the NSW south coast at 3 p.m. On Friday.
According to police he had been fishing before being washed off rocks.
A short time later, a body was located in the water.
The body is yet to be identified.
Another fisherman died after being swept off a rock at Endeavour Dr at the Wollongong Harbour about 6.15 a.m. on Friday.
He was pulled from the water unconscious.
Despite resuscitation attempts from police, the 58-year-old man could not be saved.
“Initial inquiries have led police to believe the man was fishing on a rock wall nearby when he was swept into the water,” a police statement read.
A report will be prepared for the coroner, and police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident and have not spoken to authorities to come forward.
Another person drowned in an incident at Middle Head in Mosman.
Emergency services were called to Middle Head Point at 10.20 a.m. following reports of a concern for the welfare of a man in the water.
Police with assistance from Surf Life Saving NSW, Marine Rescue, NSW Ambulance paramedics and Marine Area Command, commenced an operation to locate the man.
A short time later, a body was located in water nearby.
While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the man.
Initial inquiries have led police to believe the man was on rocks when he fell into the water.
A few hours later, a woman’s body was pulled from the water and another remains missing in San Remo in Victoria’s south after three people were swept into the water.
Emergency services were called to a beach off Punch Bowl Rd about 8.30 a.m. after reports two women and a man were washed off a rock and into the water.
“One of the women managed to make her way back to shore but the other woman and the man were unable to,” Victoria Police said.
The Air Wing conducted a helicopter search for the two missing in the water, and discovered an unresponsive woman in the waves.
She was pulled from the water and brought back to the shore, but could not be revived.
The search for the missing man continues.
Surf Lifesavers have urged swimmers to be extra cautious while in the water during the Easter holidays, as the chance of drowning is four times higher over this long weekend than other periods of the year.
Over the last decade, there were 630 drownings at unpatrolled beaches, 85 percent of which were males.
Of these deaths, 59 percent occurred while the person was swimming or wading in the water.
He has urged holidaygoers to visit patrolled beaches during the long weekends, as lifesavers are on “high alert”.
“Patrolled beaches are the safest place for people to swim and enjoy our oceans,” Surf Life Saving Australia chief executive Adam Weir said.
“But we know that Aussies and visitors to our country like to go off the beaten track to enjoy camping, fishing and other coastal activities.
“But these coastal locations can present dangers, some that you can see and some that you can’t, which is why we have some simple advice: Stop, Look, Stay Alive.”
The Bureau of Meteorology have cautioned NSW residents to be extra cautious of hazardous wave conditions off the coast, spanning the Byron Coast, Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast.
“Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming in the following areas,” a bureau statement read.
Swimmers have been urged to stay away from the water until the hazardous conditions pass, and people have been advised to avoid walking near surf-exposed areas over the Easter long weekend.
