Lifesavers provide first aid to a handful of swimmers who got caught in a rip at an unpatrolled Apollo Bay beach

Three people remain in Geelong hospital after they got caught in a rip at Apollo Bay on Sunday – exactly a fortnight after a man drowned at a nearby beach.

Marengo Beach, near Apollo Bay, where one person drowned and two were rescued in mid-March. Picture: Brad Fleet.

Dramatic scenes unfolded in Apollo Bay on Sunday morning when five people got caught in a rip at an unpatrolled beach.

Three of those involved were taken to Geelong hospital, where they remained in a stable condition late Sunday afternoon.

A Lifesaving Victoria (LSV) spokeswoman said the incident occurred at an unpatrolled beach between the Apollo Bay patrolled area and Marengo beach.

“It is unknown to LSV how they made it to shore,” she said.

“Apollo Bay patrol volunteers were dispatched and provided first aid on shore to the swimmers, who were conscious and breathing, before Ambulance Victoria arrived and treated them.”

Ambulance Victoria’s air ambulance was on standby, but not required.

The incident comes exactly a fortnight after three men were pulled unconscious men from the nearby Marengo beach, 3km south of the Apollo Bay township.

Witnesses performed CPR on a 26-year-old man but he died at the scene.

The man was later identified as Indian national Jil Khokhara.

The two other men were taken to hospital in a critical condition.

Brianna Hurst, from Cheltenham, pulled all three men from the water.

The 33-year-old later said “instinct kicked in” when she ran into the waves to help.

Ms Hurst, who described herself as a strong swimmer, said the men were floating unconscious and face down in the water about 20m from the shore.

“I definitely wouldn’t recommend anyone who isn’t a confident swimmer to swim there,” she said.

“I would classify it as a dangerous beach.

“It’s flat and then drops off and if you don’t realise, you can get into trouble.”

‘Heroic’: Brianna Hurst. Picture: Brad Fleet.

Police described Ms Hurst’s efforts as “heroic”.

“She put herself in extreme danger to rescue three people she didn’t know,” Acting Senior Sergeant Stephen Bull said.

Surf Life Saving Victoria executive adviser Paul Shannon at the time said it had been a tragic summer.

In January, four people died after drowning at Phillip Island – Victoria’s worst drowning incident in almost two decades.

Originally published as Lifesavers provide first aid to a handful of swimmers who got caught in a rip at an unpatrolled Apollo Bay beach