Man drowns attempting to rescue daughter at Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head

A lifeguard has detailed a dad’s tragic drowning in northern NSW, which occurred when he tried to rescue his daughter. Beachgoers have been warned of dangerous conditions and “humungous rips”.

A Northern NSW lifeguard says a dad drowned while trying to rescue his daughter after she was swept out in the surf amid a “perfect storm” of “unforgiving” conditions at Lennox Head.

Lifeguard co-ordinator Scott McCartney said lifesavers and lifeguards were alerted to “a man in distress” on Seven Mile Beach near Lennox Hotel about 6.30pm on Wednesday night.

NSW Police believe the Irish citizen, 45, swam out after his 11-year-old daughter on a bodyboard before he ran into trouble.

He was retrieved from the surf in an unresponsive state about 7pm and could not be revived, despite NSW Ambulance paramedics attempting CPR.

It comes after Colombian man Sebas Sánchez Leon, 27, drowned at New Brighton Beach in Byron Shire on January 2. His mate Daniel Vivas, 28, tried to save him but ended up in hospital himself.

The latest drowning at Lennox also follows the drowning of Alane Etoundi, 19, in December 2021.

His body was recovered at the northern end of Seven Mile Beach following an extensive weekend search.

Mr McCartney said an off-duty lifeguard had been fishing nearby.

He said off-duty lifesavers were at the club after finishing training, including a number of teens aged 16 and 17, who also leapt into action.

“They just finished having a shower and a member alerted them to the incident,” Mr McCartney said.

NNSW lifeguard co-ordinator Scott McCartney at Seven Mile Beach. Picture: Rae Wilson

“They brought boards, tubes, drones and rescue equipment and ran down to the beach. They saw a man floating in the water and retrieved him back to shore.

“Paramedics were on the scene so they handed the patient over to them. When they (lifesavers) got to the patient, the man was unconscious.

“I’ve heard the father pushed the girl back to shore and become stuck himself.

“It just looks like he ran out of energy and unfortunately drowned.”

Lifesaver and lifeguard monitored and flagged areas across NSW have been narrow right across the summer holidays because of dangerous beach conditions.

But Mr McCartney said this had not stopped swimmers entering the water at unmanned spots or after hours as perfect conditions set up the “perfect storm”.

Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head on Thursday. A man drowned while attempting to rescue his daughter from the surf at Lennox Head late on Wednesday. Picture: Rae Wilson

“We’ve had a large swell hanging around the whole holidays,” he said.

“It’s been a really tricky summer for us up and down the coast.

“We’re reaching numbers we don’t really want to reach.

“Unfortunately, it’s the perfect storm considering how many people are out and about.

“I understand it’s a big beach, there’s always resorts, Airbnbs and housing that isn’t near the flags, but we always do try to be as proactive as possible and direct people back to the flags.

“We’ve had incidents where people go right next to humungous rips and we remind them to swim between the flags – that’s our key message.”

Lifeguards work workdays but finish at 5-6pm but there is a call-out system after hours.

Lifesaver volunteer on weekends and public holidays over the summer season.

Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head on Thursday. Picture: Rae Wilson

Mr McCartney said it was sadly not the first drowning at Lennox Head.

“Just before summer last year we had another drowning in front of Lennox Surf Club,” he said.

“The weather looks so inviting but we know how dangerous … and unforgiving the ocean is.

“If someone gets caught in a rip, keep calm and use a flotation device.

“If you’re going to help someone stuck, take a flotation device.

“Even if they’ve got one, take another one … you can look after each other.

“Our advice in a rip is to keep calm, keep the flotation device, someone is going to figure it out and we’ll be able to get down there and rescue.”

Mr McCartney urged people to swim between the flags and use the BeachSafe app to see when and where the flagged areas were.

He said it was hard for people on the scene when tragedy struck but there was a good support base for people involved in surf lifesaving.

“We’re a tight knit community inside surf lifesaving so we look after each other as best we can and support each other,” Mr McCartney said.

“The first responder on the scene was put in a bad situation but they understand that’s part of the job.

Lennox Head.

“Dealing with that is part of the job but they never really want to have to be involved in it.

“It’s heartbreaking for everyone.

“The direct family involved, you have no words and you can’t put yourself in that situation.

“For myself, I worry about the people who went out and assisted in the rescue.

“They’re young people and it’s a traumatic experience they have to go through.”

Mr McCartney asked beach goers to be more vigilant as the summer holiday wrapped up.

“We’re still very nervous (for Australia Day),” he said.

“It’s one of our most chaotic days with rescues, drownings and all kinds of incidents.

“With the summer we’ve had and the weather it looks like we’re going to have for Australia Day, we’re warning everyone to be smart.

“There’s a lot of drinking, a lot of partying, a lot of excitement on that day but we urge everyone coming down to the beach to swim between the flags.

“Once we pull it up for the day, please stay out of the water.”

Earlier, it was reported the man’s wife also swam out to rescue their daughter, but was able to reach the shore and alert authorities.

NSW Ambulance paramedics attempted CPR but were unable to revive the man and he died at the scene.

Lennox Head visitor Stuart O’Dea with his grandson Callum, 6. His father grew up in the area and he has been travelling to the area with his family since 1966. Picture: Rae Wilson

Two police officers, who were first on the scene, entered the surf in an attempt to find the man but were unsuccessful.

The woman and her daughter were treated by paramedics and allowed to go home.

The family is from Lennox Head. The dad was also an Irish citizen and officers from Richmond Police District have alerted the Irish Consulate of the man’s death.

Seven Mile Beach was not patrolled at the time. A report will be prepared for the coroner.

On Thursday, Lennox Head visitor Stuart O’Dea described what happened as “a true tragedy”.

Mr O’Dea, who has been visiting the area since 1966, said he was at a restaurant in town when he saw a commotion as emergency services arrived to the beach.

“It was awful, it’s so sad,” he said.

“We heard the story this morning about a 45-year-old dad rescuing his daughter.

“It was a feeling of just sadness.

“It’s a true tragedy.”

Seven Mile Beach at Lennox Head on Thursday morning. Picture: Rae Wilson

Mr O’Dea, who was at the beach with his daughter and grandson Callum, said he had seen a few rescues over the years.

“It’s hard for me to say but it’s a dangerous beach. It’s hazardous,” he said.

“We actually thought because they were locals they’d have community support.

“Lennox community is probably fairly tight knit I’d imagine, it used to be anyway.

“It’s just horrible.”

Originally published as Man drowns attempting to rescue daughter at Seven Mile Beach, Lennox Head