Safety concerns grow after boy, 5, drowns at Bents Basin near Wallacia

The drowning of a five-year-old boy at one of Sydney’s most popular swimming spots has prompted calls for an urgent safety review of the basin while a prominent local declared “it should never have been reopened”.

Bents Basin can be a dangerous swimming spot. Picture: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

The drowning of a boy at a popular Sydney swimming spot has reignited fears about safety at the 22m deep basin and its unpredictable currents and prompted calls for a safety review.

A five-year-old boy died just hours after being pulled unconscious at Bents Basin in Wallacia on Saturday evening, after being rushed to The Children’s Hospital at Westmead in a critical condition.

The heartbreaking event took place one month after the waterhole frequented by families reopened following extensive flood recovery works by NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.

A NPWS spokeswoman said it was “deeply saddened” by the tragic news and that NSW Police were undertaking an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

“NPWS will consider further safety measures in line with any findings,’’ she said.

Bents Basin was closed after flood damage. Picture: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

“We want everyone in NSW to have a safe water experience and encourage water users to assess conditions and be aware of their own swimming ability.’’

Badgerys Creek state Liberal MP Tanya Davies called on Environment Minister Penny Sharpe MLC for an “urgent safety review”.

After flood damage repair works. Picture: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

“I have written to the minister calling for an urgent safety review of this recreational site and for immediate funding to be made available for any safety improvements,’’ she said.

Deaths over the past decade include the drowning of a 27-year-old man in 2019 and a 25-year-old man in 2016.

Former Camden councillor Cindy Cagney said the basin “should never have been reopened”.

“It’s always been dangerous, lord knows … why they let people swim there,” she said online.

Bents Basin has no lifeguards or patrols despite being a popular family-friendly swimming hole in Sydney's far southwest.

Several others also commented about the difficulties in reaching someone drowning in the “bottomless” basin because of its vast 120m width.

NPWS has six signs around Bents Basin informing visitors of swimming hazards and lack of lifeguards.

Samantha Spicer said on Facebook: “It can be so dangerous for little ones if they swim out into the middle area. It’s so wide now that you will have no chance reaching a child in trouble from the water’s edge.’’

Bents Basin is a “scour pool” – a natural phenomenon carved out of sandstone by fast flowing flood waters from the Nepean River that exit the gorge at speeds of up to 40km per hour, creating a powerful whirlpool style flow.

The rapid water currents what gave the waterhole its shape and depth, but can also lead to unpredictably strong currents that aren’t always visible from the surface.

NPWS advised that there are six signs around the basin warning visitors of swimming hazards and that no lifeguards are present.