Rising league star Daniel Cama tragically drowns in Lake Parramatta
A rising rugby league star has tragically drowned during an afternoon swim at Lake Parramatta. Distraught adults and children watched on as police divers retrieved his body from the water.
NSW
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A teenager who tragically drowned in Lake Parramatta has been identified as a rising rugby league star making his mark with a Sydney NRL club.
Daniel Cama, 16, disappeared during an afternoon swim at the popular western Sydney spot just after 2pm.
His distraught family gathered as the red sun set over the river to perform a moving haka as his body was taken away by funeral home staff.
The Christian teenager referred to the bible verse Psalm 73:26 on his social media.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever,” the verse reads.
Daniel had recently been selected to play for the Sydney Roosters in the NSW Rugby League’s Harold Matthews Ball under-16s competition.
The prestigious junior representative competition allows the best young league stars to compete at a high level while lining up for recognised clubs, many of which have NRL and Intrust Super Premiership sides.
He was to begin playing in the Harold Matthews summer competition in February.
His junior club, Wentworth United Junior Rugby League Club in Sydney’s west, made a tribute to their young star on Facebook.
“We at Wentworthville give our love and condolences to his family and friends,” the club stated.
“Daniel played in our 15s Division 1 side this year – rest in peace Daniel.”
His young girlfriend has made a brief tribute to him on Instagram.
“30/12/19 – forever in my heart,” she wrote.
Friends and family also prayed together with hands raised alongside a police chaplain, who attended the tragic scene for their support.
A couple believed to be Daniel’s parents were taken to view the boy before he was stretchered out of the basin with the assistance of police.
Police divers were required to retrieve the teen from the lake, which is several metres deep outside the marked swimming area.
The lake was evacuated by police after hysteria over Daniel’s disappearance but has now reopened to the public.
Three volunteer lifesavers from Surf Life Saving Australia were on duty when the tragedy occurred and attempted to search for the boy as emergency services made their way to the scene.
The lake is staffed with three volunteer lifesavers from 9am to 6pm every day during the summer school holidays and on weekends throughout the rest of summer.
The City of Parramatta website advises swimmers not to swim alone, check conditions before entering and take care on the slippery lake bed.
In a separate tragedy, a body believed to be a man who went missing while swimming in the state’s south on the weekend has also been recovered.
Murray River Police District officers, local SES volunteers and Marine Rescue from Moama had been searching for a 23-year-old man who disappeared beneath the waters of the Murray River at Tocumwal on Sunday.
Early on Tuesday a man’s body was recovered at Pebbly Beach and police believe it is the missing swimmer, though he is yet to be formally identified.
“NSW Police Force would like to thank all the agencies that assisted in the search including Victorian Police Divers, NSW Maritime, NSW Marine Rescue and the SES,” police stated.