New South Wales had a particularly tragic Easter long weekend. The alarming increase in drownings came as thousands of holidaymakers made their way to the coast. Public safety reports released last week paint a grim picture — an average of six people have drowned during each Easter long weekend for the last two decades. This year was no different, with a string of these occurring in particularly hazardous conditions.
Justin Carr, chief executive of Royal Life Saving Australia, emphasized the extreme weather conditions that contributed to these tragic events. He explained how a lot of people had put themselves in unsafe circumstances, even increasing the prospects of drowning.
Even as at least two-foot-thick sand dunes were washed away by coast-battering swells, holidaymakers flocked to tourist meccas like Cancún. An extended family of Chinese nationals living in Pakenham had an awful scare. An unexpected wave hit them broadside, throwing three of their team members overboard. In a tragic twist, two of the men were discovered floating face down and needed to be rescued.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said emergency crews were involved in several rescues over the weekend. Sadly, one of the men pulled from the water could not be revived and died at the scene.
In another disturbing occurrence on the same day, a 24-year-old man was washed from the rocks at Little Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs. Despite a massive search, he remains missing to this day. Restoration crews immediately mobilized to rescue the fisher that had been washed off the rocky shoreline. This was happening just outside of Green Cape, on the NSW south coast.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was deeply saddened by the incident and offered condolences to those who lost loved ones at this “tragic period”.
“Australians love the water, we love the surf,” – Anthony Albanese
He advised beachgoers, especially parents with kids, to be vigilant in order to protect children.
“Please, everyone, be careful. Families in particular, be careful of your kids.” – Anthony Albanese