Man drowns at Clovelly Beach in New Year’s Day tragedy
A man has drowned while swimming at Clovelly Beach, in Sydney’s east today. He was pulled unconscious from the surf but he was unable to be revived.
An off-duty doctor tried to perform CPR on a man who drowned after being found face down at Clovelly Beach.
It is believed people thought the 34-year-old man was snorkelling before realising he was actually face-down and unconscious at the north-side rocks of the popular beach.
An off-duty doctor helped pull the man out of the water with lifesavers and police before carrying out CPR before five ambulances arrived.
Lifeguard George Shales said: “Lifeguards and a doctor who was at the beach immediately commenced CPR and attempted to resuscitate the man until paramedics arrived.”
Mr Shales said a male friend was at the beach with man but said it was not known if they were from Sydney or visiting from overseas.
NSW Chief Superintendent Ian Johns said it was unknown how long he had been in the water but nothing could be done to save him.
The man did not respond to CPR or the use of a defibrillator to restart his heart.
“Between the lifesavers, the police, the off-duty doctor and the paramedics everything was done that could have been done for this gentleman,” he said.
Paramedics received a Triple-0 call at 1.54 and five crews arrived just eight minutes later with a helicopter initially deployed to assist.
“He was unresponsive to treatment and died at the scene,” Superintendent Johns said.
Police are now investigating what happened and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
Sydney temperatures hit as high as 27C in Sydney’s east and 37C in the west today, with many people flocking to the beach to cool down on New Year’s Day.
It is the 14th drowning death this summer in NSW according Royal Life Saving Australia figures.
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