A devastating Easter long weekend in NSW and Victoria has claimed multiple lives, with huge waves breaking at popular beaches and leaving families in shock. At least six people have drowned over the past 20 years during this period.
Tragic Drownings Over Easter Long Weekend in NSW and Victoria
The New South Wales (NSW) and Victorian police forces have a dedicated unit to investigate missing persons cases.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, an average of 40,000 people go missing each year in Australia.
In NSW, the most common reasons for going missing include mental health issues, substance abuse, and relationship problems.
The Victorian Police's Missing Persons Unit works closely with family members and other agencies to locate missing individuals.
Both states have a centralized database to track missing persons cases and share information with other police forces.
Huge waves break at North Narrabeen Beach on April 18. Large swells hit the east coast of Australia this Easter long weekend, contributing to a spate of drowning deaths.
A nine-year-old boy has died after becoming trapped between rocks at South West Rocks on Sunday afternoon. Police and other emergency services tried to free the boy from the site but he died at the scene. The Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive, ‘extremely tragic’ , described the incident as and stated that it was the worst drownings seen over the Easter long weekend.
Crews had also been involved in numerous rescues as holidaymakers flocked to the coast during powerful swells. The search for two men missing since Friday has resumed in both NSW and Victoria. A 24-year-old man was swept off the rocks by a large wave at Little Bay in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs, while a 41-year-old man exploring the beach near San Remo in Victoria went missing.
In Sydney, emergency services were called to Wattamolla in Royal National Park after reports of two people being swept off the rocks while fishing. Two men were found floating face down in the water and rescued, but one died at the scene. A 58-year-old fisherman also died after being swept into Wollongong harbour on Friday morning.
The incident has highlighted the dangers of swimming during extreme weather conditions. The ‘people had put themselves in danger by walking along rocky shelves, getting too close to the water to take pictures of the storm swell, and rock fishing when it wasn’t safe to do so’ , said the Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive, ‘Justin Carr’ .
Swimmers should always swim with a buddy and stay within designated areas.
Lifeguards are present at public pools, but it's essential to know basic water rescue techniques.
Swimming in open waters can be hazardous due to strong currents and marine life.
Always check the weather forecast before swimming outdoors.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), drowning is one of the leading causes of death worldwide among children aged 1-14 years.
An average of six people have drowned each Easter long weekend over the past 20 years. Authorities have urged Australians to be careful on the water during the remainder of the long weekend, particularly families with children.
Australia has one of the highest rates of drowning in developed countries.
According to the Royal Life Saving Society, an average of 280 people die by drowning each year.
The majority of these incidents occur near beaches and swimming pools.
To address this issue, various initiatives have been implemented, including swim lessons for children and water safety awareness campaigns.
Additionally, many public pools and beaches now have lifeguards on duty during peak hours.
The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has expressed his condolences to those who have lost loved ones and reminded everyone to exercise caution when enjoying the water. ‘Australians love the water, we love the surf,’ he said. ‘Please, everyone, be careful. Families in particular, be careful of your kids.’
