Easter holidaymakers along the coast have again been reminded to swim between the flags following the drowning of two men at Park Beach, Coffs Harbour, yesterday afternoon.
About 3.40pm (Tuesday March 22), emergency services attended the southern end of the beach following reports two people were seen struggling in the water.
A 28-year-old man was rescued from the water by a bystander and taken to shore where he was given CPR.
Two people found a 30-year-old man in the water and pulled him to shore where he was also CPR.
The second man could not be revived and died at the scene.
The 28-year-old man was taken to Coffs Harbour Base Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later.
Liam Howitt of Surf Life Saving New South Wales said that with the hot start to autumn, beaches were still popular.
‘With school holidays coming up, the bulk of people going to the beach will be doing so at an unfamiliar location,’ he said, adding that his ‘number one piece of safety advice was to swim at a patrolled location between the red and yellow flags.
‘There are a number of patrolled beaches at the Beachsafe website, which can also be downloaded as an app. It provides links to the current weather, which beaches are patrolled, a safety rating for the beach and the facilities available,’ Mr Howitt said.
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