Colombian Sebas Sánchez Leon identified as man who drowned on New Brighton Beach in Byron Shire
A Colombian man who drowned near Byron Bay in northern NSW has now been identified as friends work to get his body flown home. Here’s the latest.
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Colombian national Sebas Sánchez Leon has been identified as the victim of a tragic drowning at New Brighton Beach in Byron Shire.
Mr Leon, 27, and his friend Daniel Vivas, 28, were swimming at New Brighton Beach on Monday, January 2 when they ran into trouble as conditions in the water became treacherous.
Mr Leon was caught in a rip and Mr Vivas charged headlong into the water to help after spotting his friend in distress.
Emergency services were called when Mr Vivas stumbled out of the water and collapsed.
Surf lifesavers and an off-duty nurse fought to save Mr Leon’s life after he was hauled to shore unresponsive.
They performed CPR until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived, however, Mr Leon could not be revived.
Mr Vivas was taken to Tweed Hospital in a stable condition.
He and two more of Mr Leon’s friends have since started a GoFundMe fundraiser to send Mr Leon’s body home to his family in Colombia.
They have raised more than $20,000 for repatriation, with two donors handing over $1000 each.
The friends said they wanted to help their “dear friend” to “rest in peace in his country and his home accompanied by his family and loved ones”.
Their statement has been translated from Spanish to English.
“Unfortunately, Sebas was the victim of an accident on one of the beaches north of Byron Bay in Australia,” the fundraiser read.
“At the request and authorisation of his family, we want to ask for everyone’s help to be able to pay for the repatriation of Sebas’s body.
“We appreciate everyone’s help in assisting the family in this very difficult process. Sebas deserves this and much more, thank you all.”
Mr Leon was initially described by emergency services as a Brazilian national.
Community members flocked to northern NSW social media pages to express their sadness.
“I heard the sirens go past and my first thought was about the beach. So rough yesterday and today,” one woman wrote on Facebook.
“How incredibly sad for these two and their families. There are patrols at two other beaches right by New Brighton.
“It's such a sad reminder of how careful you need to be and even then it can still be so dangerous.”
Many commenters spoke of the rough conditions at the beach.
“So very sad. It’s often migrants or overseas visitors who get into trouble, with no experience of our rips,” another woman wrote.
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