Kiama blowhole drowning: ‘Fun-loving’ dad’s tragic death

A man who died while snorkelling near the popular Kiama blowhole on Monday was due to fly out to his younger sister’s engagement party tomorrow, but in minutes everything changed.

A snorkeler who drowned at a popular south coast blowhole was due to attend his sister’s engagement party this week.

Father of two, Wadie Andrawis, drowned at the Kiama blowhole on Monday while snorkelling with three friends.

The 33-year-old from Kingswood, who has a two-year-old daughter and two-month-old son, was swept by underwater currents onto rocks near the tourist attraction.

Tragedy... Wadie Andrawis and his wife. Picture: Facebook

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His brother Wagdi Andrawis said Wadie was “a fun, caring and loving man”.

“This is the second loss in the family as we have lost our 23-year-old sister recently, my mother and father are devastated,” he told The Daily Telegraph.

“He worked hard and loved his wife and two babies dearly,” Wagdi said.

The other members of his swimming group, including two teenagers, were assessed by paramedics but were uninjured.

Lake Illawarra District Duty Officer Grant Hughes said the group had been able to swim back to a ledge near the blowhole.

Lifeguards from Kiama local council used their jetski to pull Mr Andrawis from the water and started performing CPR on him, but he couldn’t be resuscitated.

Paramedics and rescue helicopter personnel treat one of several victims at Kiama. Picture: Anita Balalovski

A swimmer is rescued by a jet skier near the Kiama blowhole. Picture: Anita Balalovski

An aerial view of Blowhole Point headland at Kiama.

An hour later on the NSW Mid North Coast lifeguards responded to another drowning.

A 66-year-old Sydney man was unable to be revived after having suspected cardiac arrest at Boomerang Beach.

Surf Life Saving Australia Spokesman James Turnham said the man was swimming near the edge of the flags before becoming distressed.

Lifeguards and on-lookers dragged the man out of the surf and performed CPR but he could not be revived.

The death takes New South Wales’ summer drowning toll to 18 - nearly one third of the national toll.