Sandeep ‘Sunny’ Dutta: Tributes flow, petition launched after Xmas day drowning at Windsor Beach

Tributes continue to flow for well-loved real estate agent and boxing referee Sandeep Dutta, who drowned on Christmas Day, as a petition is launched to improve safety at Windsor Beach.

On a Facebook post on the day before his passing, Sandeep ‘Sunny’ Dutta told his friends you “can’t predict” the future so “don’t worry”. Picture: Facebook/Sandeep Dutta

Sandeep ‘Sunny’ Dutta is being remembered as a young man with an infectious smile known for telling people to “have a sunny day”.

Tributes have been flowing for the popular real estate agent and boxing judge and referee following his drowning death on Christmas Day at Windsor Beach.

Members of the community have also started a petition for more safety measures at the popular swimming spot along the Hawkesbury River following Mr Dutta’s death which came 11 days after the death of Ryan Bibby, 16, at the same site.

The “Stop Windsor Beach from taking our loved ones”’ was launched on December 27 by Mr Dutta’s niece Alisha Tuli and has more than 600 signatures.

Mr Dutta was a sales consultant at Starr Partners Bella Vista and well-respected referee and judge for Boxing Australia.

Known by the community as ‘Sunny’, Sandeep Dutta (left) was recognised as a young man with an infectious smile. Picture: Facebook/Boxing Australia

The 36-year-old was spending Christmas Day at the popular swimming spot with friends.

At about 5.15pm, emergency services responded to a report that an unconscious man had been retrieved from the river at Windsor Bridge. Paramedics could not revive him.

A memorial service was held for Mr Dutta, originally from Patiala India, on Friday with tributes describing Mr Dutta as “a young man with an infectious smile” and a great person with “positive vibes at all times”.

He was also known for telling people to “have a sunny day”.

Mr Dutta’s tragic death came after teenager Ryan Bibby, a horse lover and racing fan, drowned at the swimming spot a week earlier on December 14 after he failed to resurface from the water while swimming with friends.

With more than 600 signatures and 140 comments, the online petition is pushing for improved signage and fencing at Windsor Beach, with hopes to construct netting in the water due to its location near a water cliff.

Ryan Bibby, 16, drowned while swimming at Windsor Beach on December 14, 2022.

“Windsor Beach is a deadly and dangerous body of water that has been proclaimed a beach,” Ms Tuli’s said in the petition.

“There is a few metres of sand and a footstep away is a water cliff that takes lives of too many beautiful people each month including that of my beloved uncle.

“This petition is to create bigger posters than the current tiny few present. There has to be some sort of change; netting in the water before the cliff begins, fencing, anything. We need your help to make this happen.

“Help us to do the bare minimum and raise physical and verbal awareness about the dangers of this so called beach and to promote physical signage and fencing, with our help and support this is possible. Save your loved ones.”

Hawkesbury City Council recently installed new signage around Macquarie Park to help keep people informed about the dangers of swimming in local waterways, however, members of the community are calling for more to be done by Hawkesbury Mayor Sarah McMahon.

Two people have lost their lives at Windsor Beach since December 2022. Picture: ipetitions/Alisha Tuli

On Ms McMahon’s mayoral Facebook page, commenters have said the sign which reads “unsupervised children have drowned at this location” should be reworded to reflect the number of adults that have drowned over the years.

“You need to do much more! Year after year drownings occur here on the towns doorstep and this sign is all you can come up with. It’s akin to the Emperor Has no clothes scenario!” one comment read.

“Council should refrain from calling it … Windsor Beach … I don‘t know when that started but it seems like Council was ENCOURAGING people to visit to SWIM. SO WRONG,” another writes.

In response, Ms McMahon said that a new audit was set to be carried out to assess the new signage.

“A risk assessment/audit will be carried out with Royal Life Saving of Macquarie Park in the new year and I welcome this additional measure,” she wrote.

Seven signs have been installed around Macquarie Park to warn people of the dangers of swimming in the local river. Picture: Facebook / Sarah McMahon – Mayor of Hawkesbury

Hawkesbury City Councl’s acting general manager Will Barton told the Hills Shire Times that council would be undertaking a safety assessment at Governor Macquarie Park, in close consultation with Royal Life Saving NSW and NSW Police, to identify additional opportunities to increase safety along the river.

“Inland waterways are the most dangerous waterways for swimming, with more drownings in creeks and rivers in Australia than any other location,” Mr Barton said.

“However, public waterways also have an important role to play in the overall wellbeing of a community and we understand the community does choose to swim in the Hawkesbury and engage in water sports right along the River.

“In October 2021, Council partnered with Royal Life Saving NSW to install two public life saving device stations at Governor Macquarie Park to provide the public with assistance in the event of a swimmer experiencing difficulty in the river.

“Following the recent drownings, five additional warning signs have been installed at Governor Macquarie Park, bringing the total number of warning signs to 14. These signs are highly visible and warn of the dangers of swimming at this location.”

Mr Barton said that people considering swimming in any waterway should be aware of their own swimming ability, dangerous currents, river conditions, water visibility and riverbeds that fall off sharply away from the bank.

Royal Life Saving Australia (RLSA) has identified 28 drowning deaths nationwide since the beginning of summer with RLSA Chief Executive Officer Justin Scarr stating that the days between Christmas and New Year’s Day are often the deadliest period for drowning.

“Whether you are holidaying, day tripping choosing a safe location to swim, where lifeguards are on duty is essential,” Mr Scarr said.

“Rivers, lakes, and unpatrolled beaches can be incredibly dangerous, especially for people with poor swimming skills.”

The RLSA encourage those who want to enjoy the water safely this summer to always supervise children around water, avoid alcohol around water, wear a lifejacket when boating and fishing, know the conditions, and avoid going alone.