Christmas drownings NSW: Penrith Beach victim named; Khattab Abu Haish, 19, missing off South Coast beach

A man drowned at Anna Bay this afternoon, as the selfless victim of yesterday’s Penrith Beach drowning was identified. Seti Tauopepe and Canadian tourist Ron Brean are two of five people drowned or missing off NSW beaches since Christmas.

A man has died after a group of four people were pulled from the ocean near Port Stephens on Wednesday afternoon, as a father who drowned while saving his children at Penrith Beach on Boxing Day was remember as a “family man”.

The death of a 33-year-old man at Birubi Beach in Anna Bay about 2.30pm on Wednesday is the latest fatality in a horror Christmas period so far.

There were reports a group of swimmers were struggling in the water, before four people were pulled from the water with one pronounced dead on the beach, while another man and woman were taken to John Hunter Hospital, and a fourth man did not require treatment.

Five people are now missing or dead at beaches across NSW since before Christmas, including Seti Tuaopepe who died at Penrith Beach on Tuesday.

Mr Tauopepe’s last selfless act was to hold his children he was paddleboarding with above water until another rescuer arrived, but ultimately he was unable to save himself.

Seti Tuaopepe drowned while paddleboarding with his children at Penrith Beach on Boxing Day. Picture: Facebook

Mr Tuaopepe’s body was found after a four-hour search on Tuesday afternoon at Penrith Beach. Picture:. Must Credit: TNV

“You were kind, silent and a very gentle classmate,” one friend wrote on Facebook.

“You were a family man … condolences to your wife, children and family. Rest in peace and in the loving arms of our Lord.”

Mr Tuaopepe grew up in Samoa before moving to New Zealand for university, and then to Australia for work.

Royal Life Saving boss Justin Scarr said the week ­between Christmas and January 2 was the deadliest period for drowning deaths.

“The summer holidays are the time when we all like to catch up with friends and family, relax and unwind, but sadly it’s also the peak period for drowning,” Mr Scarr said.

All four incidents follow NSW recording a horror summer of drownings last season, with 28 people drowning in waters off the state’s coastline — the highest number ever recorded.

CANADIAN TOURIST IDENTIFIED AS NORTH COAST VICTIM

An “ocean-loving” grandfather who was pulled from the water at Copacabana Beach on Christmas Day had only arrived in Australia five days earlier.

Candian man Ron Brean, 79, went for a quick afternoon dip with his two grandsons on December 25 only to be tragically swept into a fatal current after suffering a medical episode.

Volunteer surf lifesavers and paramedics tried to save him, but he was declared dead at the scene.

The former marine electrician was a big fan of Australia and the Central Coast where he regularly visited his only relatives his daughter and her two children in Copacabana.

Mr Brean’s daughter, Jane Pearce Brean a nurse at Gosford Hospital, described her father as “an ocean lover” and “a strong swimmer” who loved going to the beach.

“He was meant to just take a quick dip in the ocean but got caught in the tide, he had always been a very good, confident swimmer ..he used to be a sailor,“ Ms Brean said

Candian grandfather Ron Brean died at Copacabana beach on Christmas Day. Picture: Supplied

“He said it was going to be his last trip to Australia, and I guess he was right, he loved that beach.”

Ms Brean says she has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support she has received from her community for the loss of her father.

“Everybody has been overwhelming me with texts just saying how he was such a lovely man, a real gentleman, full of stories and adventures.” She said.

A fundraiser has now been set up to assist Mr Brean’s family in bringing him back to Canada where he can be laid to rest.

Ms Brean has described any support shown by the community in bringing her father home as “a wonderful gift”.

“We have to take him back to his home, he didn’t know many people here, as his house and life were in Canada,” she said

“I’ve been desperately trying to renew our passports so that as my father’s only remaining family we can take him home.“

MAN MISSING AT SOUTH COAST BEACH

Meanwhile there are grave fears for a teenage swimmer who went missing at a South Coast beach on Boxing Day, just moments after saving a family member.

Khattab Abu Haish, 19, was last seen in surf off Congo Beach near Moruya about 3.30pm Tuesday.

NSW Police were told Mr Haish had rescued a family member who was struggling in the surf, before being caught in a rip and swept out to sea himself.

Khattab Abu Haish, 19, went missing off a south coast beach after rescuing a family member.

A massive search was carried out on Tuesday into the evening and resumed at first light Wednesday, with surf lifesavers, PolAir helicopters, Marine Area Command and the Westpac Rescue helicopter involved.

In a Facebook post a relative called for people to pray the young man would still be found alive.

Police have urged anyone with information to contact Batemans Bay Police or Crime Stoppers.

Congo Beach Lookout near the scene where a man went missing on Boxing Day.

RESCUER TELLS OF “PANIC” AT PENRITH BEACH

Meanwhile a rescuer told of Mr Tuaopepe’s efforts to save his “panicked” at Penrith.

Penrith local John Savill was talking to Mr Tuaopepe on the shore of the newly opened beach, just 10 minutes before he disappeared in the water on Boxing Day about 2:35pm.

“He had the same stand up paddle board as me,” the shaken Mr Savill said of the St Mary’s man.

“I headed out (into the water) with my children and we weren’t in the swimming area and he (the man) attempted to do the same thing.

“He had his three kids, I think they were all around 10 years old, a year or two either side of that.”

Family members of the drowned man at the shore. Picture: Supplied

Mr Savill said all four were sitting on the paddle board when they fell off into the water and “panicked”.

“None of them could swim and the kids started panicking and pushing him under,” he said.

“By the time I got there we got all three kids onto the paddle board and he was less than a metre away from me and then a second later he had disappeared.”

Mr Savill said he was then joined by another woman close by and a group of around 12 people in the water searching for the missing father before emergency services arrived.

“Once I got the kids on the board, I pushed them towards my father-in-law and he took them to the beach and I went back searching for the guy,” he said.

“He was literally less than a metre from me and I thought, do I get him or the kids first, while also worrying about my kids.”

The father said the incident happened only 20m from the shore.

“I don’t think it was Penrith Lake’s fault. The life savers couldn’t get there any faster,” he said.

“I hope the man’s family pulls through.”

“Our deepest condolences are with them during this sad time. I was just doing what anyone would have done in the circumstances.”

The TOLL rescue chopper and police divers are at the scene. Picture: TNV

TWO DEAD ON CENTRAL COAST

Two people drowned at Central Coast beaches in separate incidents on Christmas Day.

A man was pulled from the water at Copacabana Beach on the Central Coast about 5pm.

Volunteer surf lifesavers and paramedics tried to save him, but he was declared dead at the scene.

It is understood the man suffered a medical episode while enjoying the day at the beach with his family.

Earlier, a surfer was pulled from the water outside of the red and yellow flags at Umina Beach, also on the NSW Central Coast, about 11am.

Surf lifesavers and paramedics performed CPR on him, but he too died at the scene.

MAN MISSING AT LENNOX HEAD

A man remains missing since Christmas Eve, following reports of he disappeared from Main Beach at Lennox Head south of Byron Bay.

Emergency crews received a call about 3.20pm on Christmas Eve.

Police began a search at Lennox Head, which continued on Christmas Day, but were unable to find him. The search resumed on Tuesday with no success.