Two men taken to hospital after getting in trouble in water off St Leonards

The state’s work safety watchdog will launch an investigation into a near fatal drowning in St Leonards that saw two people rushed to hospital.

Police with diving gear on the beach. Diving accident with police on scene at St Leonards Pier. Picture: Alan Barber

The state’s work safety watchdog has launched an investigation into a near fatal drowning in St Leonards that saw two people rushed to hospital.

WorkSafe is now probing the serious scuba diving incident that saw paramedics, police and a rescue helicopter rush to the picturesque Bellarine Peninsula town about 2.30pm on Wednesday.

One man was flown to The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.

On Thursday, the hospital confirmed he was in a serious but stable condition.

Another man was taken to Geelong hospital in a stable condition.

It’s understood he has since been discharged.

One St Leonards local described the intense scene as “full on” in the quiet seaside village.

Police at the scene. Picture: Alan Barber

It’s understood both swimmers ran into trouble in the usually calm coastal waters next to the pier.

One fisherman, who did not want to be named, said he saw one person “jump in” to assist. “We’ve been told one of the bloke’s had a stroke,” he said.

“It looked pretty bad.”

Another nearby business owner said the initial fear was a man had drowned.

“People have been saying all sorts of things,” she said.

“We heard one person had died and two taken to hospital.

“It’s certainly not something that happens very often.”

Diving gear on the beach. Picture: Alan Barber

A Victoria Police spokeswoman confirmed the probe had been handed over to WorkSafe

Victoria, who have been contacted for comment.

Multiple police officers were at the scene and diving equipment could be seen on the pier.

In October last year, a 66-year-old man survived a boating accident in St Leonards that “cracked open his skull”.

The Craigieburn fisherman fell overboard and was struck in the head by the motor propeller of his boat.

EARLIER: Two men taken to hospital after ‘shocking’ Bellarine incident

Two men were rushed to hospital, one by air ambulance, after a reported scuba diving incident at St Leonards on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Emergency services were called to the St Leonards pier about 2.30pm on Wednesday.

At least four police vehicles and two ambulances were at the scene.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said one person had been flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne and the other taken to Geelong hospital by road.

A spokeswoman from Barwon Health said the man transported to Geelong was in a stable condition.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said officers were called after reports someone was in trouble in the water.

“One male was taken to hospital,” she said.

Local resident Daryl, who did not want his last name published, said there was a heavy emergency service presence and a helicopter had landed on the town’s footy oval.

He said he saw a group of scuba divers at the pier and believed at least one of them may have got into difficulty.

“It is pretty shocking,” he said.

“We’re just a quiet little village.”

Diving accident with police on scene at St Leonards Pier. Picture: Alan Barber

Sand-covered scuba equipment could be seen piled on the pier behind several police officers 4pm. Multiple officers were on site, one was making notes on a clipboard.

A man, who appeared to be searching for something, waded in the water nearby.

A ute marked with the branding of a dive company and with its tray full of dive equipment was also parked at the site.

Last month, a 66-year-old man died after a diving expedition gone wrong at the wreck of the HMAS Canberra off Barwon Heads.

The Hughesdale man was pulled from the water unresponsive and was unable to be revived.

The Canberra, a former warship, was the first artificial reef created in Victoria specifically for divers in 2009, and lies in about 30 metres of water.

Originally published as Two men taken to hospital after getting in trouble in water off St Leonards