Woman drowns at Marcus Beach, Noosa, police reveal new details

Police have revealed new details about a woman who drowned at a popular Sunshine Coast beach in a holiday tragedy.

Fresh details have emerged about a woman who tragically drowned at a popular Sunshine Coast beach despite desperate efforts from surfers and paramedics.

Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Trent Robinson said surfers found the woman “face down” in the water at Marcus Beach, south of Noosa Heads, shortly after 6am Tuesday, January 25.

He said they brought her to shore and performed CPR until paramedics arrived and continued treatment.

But sadly she was not able to be saved.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman confirmed the tragic death and late Tuesday identified the victim as a 52-year-old woman from Five Docks, NSW.

She said there were no suspicious circumstances and police would prepare a report for the coroner following her death.

Mr Robinson said the woman had been holidaying at the Sunshine Coast.

Lifeguards also responded to the incident and Surf Life Saving Queensland has offered peer support to all involved.

SLSQ Sunshine Coast lifeguard supervisor Trent Robinson said the Marcus Beach tragedy served as a reminder for people to swim between the red and yellow flags. Picture: Tegan Annett

“The conditions are pretty horrible following that large swell, we still have plenty of water movement,” the Sunshine Coast lifeguard supervisor said.

“Especially in the morning with those big tides, conditions are very unstable.”

Mr Robinson urged beachgoers to wait until the red and yellow flags go up at 7am before they enter the water.

Marcus Beach, Queensland, Australia. Picture AirBnB

He said it was a timely but tragic reminder ahead of Australia Day that residents follow lifeguards’ advice.

It was the second beach incident in as many days after a near-drowning at Sunshine Beach on Monday afternoon.

Mr Robinson said a person swimming north of the flags was brought to shore by members of the public after they took on water.

Paramedics were called and took one person to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

NEW FIGURES HIGHLIGHT DROWNING RISK

Figures from the Royal Life Saving Society show there have been 60 drownings in Australia over the summer period, up from 57 for the same period last year.

Young men aged 18 to 34 are at the highest risk of drowning with almost a quarter of those who have died being in that category.

There was an even split between inland and coastal waterways as the location for drowning deaths in this age group, highlighting the need for people visiting rivers and lakes to be aware of the risks including submerged items that can be just below the surface.

Authorities have urged people not to mix drinking with swimming, a warning particularly apt with Australia Day on Wednesday.

“We know that drinking alcohol around water can be lethal and that it is a key risk factor for young men in particular,” Royal Life Saving’s Chief Executive Officer Justin Scarr Scarr said.

“Royal Life Saving research shows that 33 per cent of young men drown with alcohol in their system, with over half being intoxicated at the time of drowning.