Spear fisher Louis Touma, 29, dies after being rescued at Bondi Beach
A 29-year-old spear fisherman who died after being pulled from the water at Bondi Beach has been identified.
NSW
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A man who tragically died after being pulled from the water unconscious while spearfishing with a group of friends off Bondi Beach has been identified.
Louis Touma, 29, was with a group of six spear fishers off rocks at North Bondi when he got into trouble about 4pm on Thursday.
His friends desperately pulled him from the water onto the rocks and performed CPR on him before life savers rushed him to the beach on a jet ski.
Paramedics took him by road to St Vincent’s Hospital in a critical condition.
Staff confirmed he died at the hospital.
Tributes were flowing for Mr Touma on social media, with friends and family describing his death as a “heartbreaking loss”.
Five people wearing wetsuits and carrying spearfishing equipment were emotional and appeared shocked when they reunited at the cliffs on the greens of the club about 5pm.
Mr Touma’s companions were assessed by NSW Ambulance paramedics at the scene before returning to a van with their gear.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Giles Buchanan said his friends were traumatised.
“NSW Ambulance paramedics were called in to treat a man who had been spear fishing with friends,” he said.
“He was found unconscious and pulled from the water before his friends attempted CPR on the rocks.
“The Toll Ambulance Helicopter’s medical team landed on Bondi Beach, where they treated the man, along with NSW Ambulance intensive care and special operations paramedics.
“This was a very traumatic experience for this man’s friends and we commend their quick response in trying to assist their friend.”
Originally published as Spear fisher Louis Touma, 29, dies after being rescued at Bondi Beach
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