Tributes for Branko Radulovic who died saving his daughter from drowning at Grange

Tributes are being paid to a dedicated father who died saving his daughter when she got into trouble during windy conditions at Grange beach last week.

Family and friends are paying tribute to a man who died trying to save his daughter from drowning at Grange.

During windy conditions, Branko Radulovic’s six-year-old daughter Lara was swept out to sea on an inflatable tube on Thursday morning.

He tried to save her but when he was pulled to the shore, the 49-year-old could not be revived.

Mr Radulovic’s devastated family and friends posted online that he had died heroically saving his daughter’s life.

“At the moment, we are still in shock and we cannot believe what kind of tragedy has befallen us,” Damjana Radanovic said on Facebook.

“Rest in peace my good uncle, I swear that I will always take care of our little Lara.”

Father Strahinja Janjic from the St Sava Orthodox Church told Channel 9 Mr Radulovic died fighting for the life of his daughter, who was, to him, the most important person in the world.

Branko Radulovic drowned while saving his daughter Lara from the ocean at Grange. Picture: Facebook

Branko Radulovic is being remembered as a dedicated dad. Picture: Facebook

“With this he showed true sacrificial love,” he said.

“We all knew him as someone who was dedicated to his family and his church.

“He was always ready to respond to any call and to help others, wherever it be, to whoever needed it.”

Police are now preparing a report for the coroner which will assess the cause of Mr Radulovic’s death.

It came less than a week after a man, 71, died while trying to save two women who were struggling in the water at Waitpinga.

The man was pulled from the water at about 5.10pm on Saturday, January 15.

A rescue helicopter flew to the scene but despite the efforts of paramedics and eyewitnesses, he was pronounced dead on the beach.

Funding a lifesaver

South Australia’s stretched surf life savers will have their ranks bolstered and five clubs overhauled under a $12.9m state government funding injection.

Surf Life Saving SA chief executive Damien Marangon said volunteers had been struggling to keep up with more beachgoers.

“There’s no doubt we are seeing a rise of people flocking to the beach in coastal locations as more and more South Australians are looking to travel,” he said.

“Our surf live savers, who are volunteers, are stretched and they are stretched like they’ve never been before.”

Mr Marangon said the funding would allow Surf Life Saving SA to recruit and retain more volunteers, boosting their current ranks of almost 3000 active life savers.

There have been five drownings on the South Australian coast in the past seven weeks.

Premier Steven Marshall announced the $12.9m funding package at the Brighton Surf Life Saving Club on Sunday.

The money will secure the redevelopments of five clubs – Normanville, Whyalla, Robe and Moana – over the next four years.

“We’re also giving a 33 per cent increase to the operational budget for Surf Life Saving SA,” Mr Marshall said.

“We’re also funding critical club redevelopments that will ensure volunteers have modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that allow them to undertake patrols, important training and education programs.”

Mr Marangon said the one-third budget increase would ensure surf life savers had “world leading facilities and equipment”.

“We’ve unfortunately already seen too many drowning tragedies across our coast this summer, so having this additional funding means we can continue to support our clubs and volunteers patrolling our beaches,” he said.

- Gabriel Polychronis