Sign banning swimming at dangerous Petrel Cove was replaced, drownings inquest told

A SIGN banning swimming at a beach where two men drowned last year was removed and replaced with advice about its dangerous currents instead, an inquest heard yesterday.

A SIGN banning swimming at a beach where two men drowned last year was removed and replaced with advice about its dangerous currents instead, an inquest heard yesterday.

Petrel Cove, near Encounter Bay, is considered one of the state’s most dangerous beaches with “highly hazardous” conditions including rips and rocky coastline.

Last year Kamran Bimal Gujari and Nasir Ali Anwari died within months of each other at the Fleurieu Peninsula beach, southwest of Victor Harbor.

But the Coroners Court heard yesterday that an old “no swimming” sign was replaced with others that instead highlighted the area’s dangerous currents and large waves, meeting national guidelines.

Victor Harbor Council did not want to place signs that banned beach swimming because it would be difficult to police, the inquest heard, while calls to close the beach were rejected as likely to be unpopular with the community.

It remains unclear when they were replaced, as the court heard the local council did not have a signs register. It is also not compelled by law to install beach safety signage.

The council denied accusations from a victim’s family that it had a disregard for safety after it emerged no signs were in place at a nearby beach before another drowning.

Signage now in place, based on surf live saving advice, was “probably some of the best in South Australia”.

The court heard local mobile phone signal was poor and phoning for help was “pointless and useless”.

Deputy State Coroner Anthony Schapel is investigating the drowning deaths of Mr Gujari, 19, at Petrel Cove on April 25 last year and Mr Anwari, 18, at the same beach on December 24.

He is also investigating the death of David Russell Gadd, 28, at the nearby Depledge Beach, known as Deps, on February 9, 2012, after he became caught in a rip while swimming and drowned.

Yesterday, a senior council manager, Brian Doman, defended the local authority’s actions, stating it had spent almost $31,000 on beach signs along kilometres of local beaches after consulting Surf Lifesaving SA.

The council’s environment and recreation manager rejected accusations from Morry Bailes, for Mr Gadd’s family, that it had neglected public safety. Mr Doman would not comment outside court.

Over the past 10 years, there have been more than 100 drowning deaths — a fifth of those occurring on the southern coast.

But the inquest has heard no surf lifesaving emergency centre or surf patrols are located near the area while police told Mr Schapel that a rescue helicopter based in the area would be “helpful”.

Mr Gadd’s family yesterday publicly thanked Daniel Irvine, a local tour charter operator, for his “personal bravery” while trying to save their son’s life.

The inquest continues.