Surf Life Saving NSW says this is the “worst” Easter long weekend on record, with five coastal drownings in the state in just three days.
Emergency services were called to Wattamolla in Sydney’s Royal National Park about 11am on Sunday following reports that two people were swept off the rocks while fishing.
The two men were found floating face down in the water and were winched to safety, but one was unable to be revived and died at the scene.
He is yet to be formally identified and a report is being prepared for the coroner.
NSW Police and emergency services were called to Wattamolla about 11am on Sunday. (ABC News)
The other person pulled from the water was a 14-year-old boy, he was taken to Randwick Children’s Hospital but has since been released.
The man’s death takes the total number of drownings in NSW since Friday to five — and the total number of drownings in the state since July 2024 to 46.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce said it had been an “absolutely horrific” time for coastal drownings with all five involving people being washed off rock shelves.
It comes as rescue teams resumed their search for a 24-year-old man who was swept off the rocks by a large wave at Little Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs on Friday.
“It would be the worst Easter drowning toll that we have seen in New South Wales on our record,” Mr Pearce said.
“Just the combination of hot temperatures, a long weekend, hundreds of thousands of people going to the coastline and an enormous swell that has impacted the coastline up and down.”
A 14-year-old boy was also pulled from the water and taken to hospital in a stable condition. (ABC News)
He said they’ve had thousands of volunteer lifesavers and hundreds of professional ocean lifeguards on patrol, and have carried out more than 150 rescues since Good Friday.
With the Bureau of Meteorology predicting one of Australia’s warmest winters on record, Mr Pearce was concerned for the days ahead.
“We’re asking people for tomorrow, and leading in the next long weekend, to find that patrolled location.
“Find that location where the red and yellow flags are flying because … lifeguards and lifesavers will be there.
“If there is no red and yellow flags flying, there will be no one there that can see you, that can possibly save you.“
Search continues for man missing near Phillip Island
In Victoria, the search continues for a man missing in waters near Phillip Island, south-east of Melbourne, since Good Friday.
The 41-year-old was exploring the beach at Punchbowl, near San Remo, with a group of fellow Chinese nationals who live in Pakenham on working visas, when three of the friends were knocked into the water by a wave.
There’s still no sign of a man who was swept off rocks at Punchbowl beach along with his wife and another woman. (ABC News)
A woman was rescued but the man’s wife drowned.
On Sunday afternoon, police said there was still no sign of the missing man but the search was continuing.
The beach is known to be hazardous with large rocks, reefs and a permanent rip.
‘Just don’t go there’
Earlier on Sunday, NSW Deputy Premier Prue Car reinforced the message, saying people must be vigilant with dangerous surf conditions across the state’s coast.
“If you’re going, make sure that if there are any warnings in place for the area that you’re going, just don’t go there, it’s too risky,” Ms Car said.
“It may look exciting but if we have to send in surf lifesaving to try to rescue you, then there are several people’s lives in danger.“
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also had a message for beachgoers.
“With the weather conditions that are there … I say, ‘Stay safe in the ocean’,” he said from Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney.
“We know that there is unseasonable activity occurring and I want people to be safe over this Easter.”
The search continues for a 24-year-old man swept off the rocks at Little Bay while walking with friends. (Supplied: Marine Rescue NSW)
On Saturday, a rock fisherman was swept into the sea at Tathra on the state’s south coast.
Emergency services were called to Kianinny Bay near Kangarutha Walking Track where the man’s body was later found.
On Friday morning, a 58-year-old fisherman died after being swept into Wollongong Harbour.
That same morning, a man drowned at Mosman on Sydney’s north shore.
Later that day, the body of a fisherman who was swept of rocks at Green Cape on the state’s far coast was discovered.
Surf Life Saving NSW says the risk of coastal drowning is more than four times greater on public holidays.
