Rock fisherman loses life despite brave effort by lifeguard

A CROYDON man, 59, has become the latest victim of the most dangerous sport in Australia – rock fishing – between Curl Curl and Freshwater beaches on Tuesday.

• Multiple sharks spotted off Queenscliff
• Parking assured despite B-Line bus service

A CROYDON man has become the latest victim of the most dangerous sport in Australia – rock fishing – after he drowned between South Curl and Freshwater beaches on Tuesday afternoon.

The 59-year-old man was fishing alone at the time and it is not clear how he came to be in the water but the seas were rough and beaches were closed.

The man was seen in the water by a member of the public who raced around to South Curl SLSC to alert lifeguards and also flagged down a passing police car.

At least 33 rock fishermen have drowned along the peninsula coastline since 1990.

Warringah Council beaches services team leader Clint Rose said South Curl Curl lifeguard Matthew Willows showed enormous bravery diving into the water from the rock platform below Carrington Pde about 200m south of the South Curl Curl rock pool.

He said the waters off the platform was “like a washing machine”.

“It was a very brave thing to do,” he said.

North Curl Curl lifeguard Parker Graham paddled out to the man on a rescue board while Freshwater lifeguard Adam Crerar raced to the scene on a jet ski, by which time Mr Willows and Mr Graham had managed to bring the man ashore.

A man rock fisherman at South Curl Curl during big seas.

The immediately commenced CPR and used a defibrillator until paramedics arrived and took over the resuscitation effort but the man could not be saved.

The death is the fourth at that location since 1990 and comes just four months after to Deputy State Coroner Carmel Forbes recommended life jackets be made mandatory for all rock fishermen.

The man who died on Tuesday was not wearing a life jacket.

At least 33 rock fishermen have drowned along the peninsula coastline since 1990.

The police will now prepare a report for the Coroner.