Tragedy struck Sydney’s coastline over the Easter weekend as a man lost his life and a young teenager was hospitalized following separate incidents involving powerful ocean currents.
On Sunday, April 9th, a fisherman perished and a fourteen-year-old boy required urgent medical attention after being unexpectedly pulled into the water at Wattamolla, located within the Royal National Park. The incident occurred around 11:00 AM and marked the sixth fatal drowning during this Easter holiday period.
Responding swiftly to the emergency, a coordinated effort was launched by several agencies, including officers from Sutherland Shire Police Area Command, PolAir (police aerial support), Marine Area Command, and paramedics from NSW Ambulance. Utilizing helicopter rescue operations – “winching” – the individuals were successfully retrieved from the water. Sadly, the man succumbed to his injuries at the scene; his identity remains unconfirmed. The teenager was transported to the Children’s Hospital at Randwick and is currently receiving treatment in a stable condition. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding both events is underway by NSW Police.
“”Watching big surf from precarious locations like rock platforms and coastal walkways can be just as dangerous as being in the ocean,”” stated Steve Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, highlighting the inherent risks associated with coastal activities during periods of rough seas.
Furthermore, a separate search operation continued over the weekend following the disappearance of a twenty-four-year-old man at Little Bay Beach on Good Friday. The man was walking along the rocks with companions when he was violently swept into the sea by a large wave. Despite an immediate and extensive search involving police, Marine Area Command, PolAir, Surf Life Saving NSW, Marine Rescue NSW, Ambulance paramedics, and Randwick Council lifeguards, he failed to surface.
The search was temporarily suspended due to deteriorating weather conditions; however, it resumed on Saturday and continued again yesterday with the assistance of Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking. Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond reported that teams conducted a comprehensive search for over seven hours. “”Big surf has been seen up and down the coast over the holiday,”” he noted.
The Bureau of Meteorology subsequently lifted a hazardous surf warning affecting Byron Coast, Coffs Coast and Macquarie Coast; however, authorities are still advising beachgoers to exercise extreme caution due to lingering potential dangers.
