Summer drowning death toll reaches nine after father Michael Sneddon dies at Ettalong Beach

In the ninth drowning since Christmas, a father Michael Sneddon has died at Ettalong Beach as his eight-year-old son watched on. Life Savers and local council have urged caution for those unfamiliar with the waters

A Central Coast businessman and father-of-six has been remembered as “kind, generous and respectful” by family members after becoming NSW’s ninth drowning death since Christmas, with lifesaving officials warning beachgoers to take extra precautions on unpatrolled beaches.

Michael Sneddon, 39, drowned at Ettalong Beach on Saturday afternoon after onlookers reported hearing screams for help as he swam with his 10 year-old son 50 metres from the shore.

The pair were pulled to shore by two men on jet skis about 2.30pm, where maritime services and paramedics attempted CPR on Mr Sneddon, a mowing and cleaning company owner, but failed to resuscitate him. He had been reported unresponsive in the water.

A man has drowned and his son was rescued at Ettalong Beach on the NSW Central Coast on Saturday. Picture: 7News

Mr Sneddon owned and operated the mowing and cleaning company Professional House and Garden in Lake Haven, and was mourned by his youngest brother Antonio on Sunday.

“He was kind, generous, respectful, and has always done stuff for his family, his friends and his children,” Mr Sneddon said.

Other family members paid tribute to the father of six in a joint statement and thanked emergency services and bystanders for trying to save Mr Sneddon’s life.

Michael Sneddon, 39, is survived by six children. Picture: Supplied

“He was a great brother, and for his Mum and Dad he was a great son. For his own children he was a great father... he is loved by his family and his business colleagues,” the Sneddon family’s statement read.

“The Sneddon family would like to say thank you to everyone who was first on the scene and thank you for saving (Mr Sneddon’s son).”

It comes as Sydney has seen a spate of drownings in recent weeks, with nine fatalities since Christmas including three on The Central Coast.

All nine drownings happened at unpatrolled sections of beaches or during unpatrolled hours.

CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW Steven Pearce urged beachgoers to always pack a flotation device with them when travelling to an unpatrolled beach.

“We knew because of the El Nino forecast that people would absolutely flock to the beaches (and) we’d get a lot of interstate and international visitors,” he said.

“Our beaches are just heaving up and down the coastline, and what that is doing is pushing a huge amount of people into areas that are unpatrolled.”

CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW Steven Pearce urged people to take extra precautions at unpatrolled beaches. Picture: Richard Dobson

Mr Pearce also warned that more people were coming to The Central Coast from other suburbs and unaware of the beaches’ individual dangers.

“If you do see someone in trouble, there’s two things that you have to do. One thing is you have to get someone to ring triple-zero,” he said.

“Secondly and most importantly, if you are going to enter the water, you must take a flotation device … that could be a boogie board, a surfboard, a rescue tube, a pool tube. Anything that you know gives you the opportunity to keep them afloat.”

Australia wide, the Royal Life Saving Society estimates that 42 have drowned between December 1 and January 7, a rise from the prior year’s 38.

On Christmas Day Canadian tourist Ron Brean drowned at Copacabana Beach after suffering a medical episode in the water, despite being a confident swimmer the 79-year-old was reportedly caught in a rip with his two grandsons.

Another unidentified man died on Umina Beach this Christmas. Lifesavers performed CBR on the surfer, but he was declared dead at the scene.

The Daily Telegraph approached The Central Coast Council for comment.