Man drowns at Lake Parramata
A 49-year-old man has drowned at Lake Parramatta. A 17-year-old boy tried to save the man, who was at the lake with his wife. Read the witness accounts.
A 49-year-old man has drowned at Lake Parramatta.
A NSW Police spokeswoman said emergency services were called to the lake at 12.30pm and found the man unresponsive in the water.
A 17-year-old boy tried to save the man, who was at the lake with his wife.
Witnesses said they heard girls scream when police broke news of the death.
“The family were just screaming,” one witness said.
“We didn’t know what happened but after that you knew it was tragic.”
Leanne, a witness, who arrived at the lake at 1.30pm said she thought the helicopters and police were responding to a robbery.
“You never think it’s drowning, “ she said
“I love it here. I’m here all the time and it’s just opened again. I was thinking about bringing the family.”
The spokeswoman said inquiries were looking into whether the man suffered a medical episode.
The lake is a popular swimming spot but only has lifeguards on summer weekends and school holidays.
Robert Sisinni from Northmead has been swimming at the spot for decades and said it had been years since a drowning.
“It used to have weeds near the banks and kids would get tangled but council have cleaned it all up and it’s about waste deep on the edges,’’ she said.
“This is a safe spot and families love it, there’s lifeguards and everything.”
A Parramatta Council spokeswoman said there were multiple signs near the lake’s entry warning people of the dangers and risks of swimming there.
“This includes signage that clearly states that there are no lifeguards on duty and that people are swimming at their own risk,’’ she said.
“Council’s website also outlines the risks as well as the designated swimming area within the lake.”
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