Man, 71, drowns trying to save lives at Waitpinga Beach

A man has drowned after trying to save two women struggling at a popular Fleurieu Peninsula surfing beach.

The man died at Waitpinga beach just after 5pm Saturday.

A 71-year-old man has drowned while trying to save two women who were struggling in the water at a popular Fleurieu Peninsula surfing beach.

The man, from Adelaide’s western suburbs, was pulled from the water at Waitpinga Beach just after 5.10pm on Saturday.

A rescue helicopter flew to the scene but despte the efforts of paramedics and eyewitnesses, the man was proncounced dead on the beach.

He had rushed into the water – along with other witnesses – to try to save the women, who are believed to be related, but got into difficulty and needed to be rescued himself.

The women were taken to South Coast Hospital as a precaution. Victor Harbor police and detectives are investigating the incident and preparing a report for the Coroner.

The man’s death is the latest drowning after a horror start to the year.

Amy Staunton, 17 died after falling from a house boat while celebrating New Year’s Evenear Swan Reach on the River Murray. The teenager’s body was pulled from the water on New Year’s Day near where she fell into the river at Marks Landing.

Across the nation, six people lost their lives in drowning accidents in the first three days of 2022.

As of Saturday, there have been 48 drowning deaths in Australia this summer, compared to 44 at the same time last year, according to the Royal Life Saving Australia website.

Saturday’s latest tragedy at Waitpinga Beach has sparked a fresh warning from South Australian police to be cautious in water and swim to local conditions, particularly at remote and unsupervised beaches.