Surf Life Saving NSW reports that there were three people drowned yesterday during a ‘horror day’ for volunteers on the east coast beaches.
They are urging beachgoers to swim between the red and yellow flags today and for the final two weekends of the patrol season.
The coastal drowning toll for the state has now risen to 46 for the period July 1 2022 to present after volunteers were called to incidents on the Far North Coast, in the Hunter, and on the South Coast of NSW on Sunday 9 April.
Port Stephens
First, at around 10.06AM, the Surf Life Saving NSW State Operations Centre (SOC) was made aware of a missing male, described as in his 70s, last seen in the water at Fingal Spit in Port Stephens. The man was witnessed to have submerged in the water, some way from where the flags fly on Fingal Beach.
NSW Water Police, NSW Ambulance, the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter and Fingal Beach SLSC’s Inflatable Rescue Boat (IRB) were engaged to assist in the search, with lifesavers in the IRB locating the man and commencing CPR once he was on board.
Despite volunteers best efforts, the man was declared deceased on scene.
Shell Cove
Hours later, at around 3PM, the SOC was advised of a swimmer in distress approximately 50m offshore from Killalea Beach in Shell Cove on the state’s South Coast.
Shellharbour lifeguards and Kiama Downs SLSC volunteers were engaged to assist the man, described as in his 40s, however he was also declared deceased on scene following resuscitation attempts by NSW Ambulance paramedics.
Tweed River
A third drowning in the Tweed River at around midday saw Far North Coast Support Operations team members engaged to investigate reports of a person being seen face down in the water, but the team was stood down before arrival by NSW Water Police.
SLSNSW CEO, Steve Pearce, said this is a tragic day in what has been a terrible year for drownings in NSW. ‘It comes off the back of the worst summer in NSW history,’ he said.
‘The drowning toll in NSW continues to rise and every drowning has occurred at an unpatrolled location or outside of patrol hours.
Mr Pearce said the patrol season finishes in just a few weeks, on ANZAC Day. ‘We really hope that beachgoers take the opportunity over the coming weeks to visit only patrolled locations and swim between the red and yellow flags.
‘Just as it was all summer, the message remains the same. If we can’t see you, we can’t save you.’
BEACH SAFETY TIPS
- Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags, for your nearest patrolled beach check the BeachSafe app or website
- Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information
- Always swim with someone else so you can look out for each other, and always supervise children around the water
- Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm
- In an emergency, dial Triple Zero
- For information about patrol times, weather, and beach locations visit the Beachsafe Website or Download the App.
