Woman dies as tinny capsizes in Nepean River; man dies at Terrigal Haven

A man and a woman have died in separate water incidents on Australia Day.

Two people have died in separate Australia Day tragedies.

A woman died after a small boat overturned in the Nepean River, near Penrith on Wednesday.

The tinny was carrying five people when it overturned just after 12:30.

It’s believed the boat unintentionally went over the Penrith Weir, a man-made ledge in the fast running river.

Emergency services were called to the scene 10 minutes later where two men and two teenagers were rescued from the water.

A Toll Recue helicopter and Police helicopter joined the frantic search for the boat’s fifth occupant — a woman believed to be 33-years-old.

Emergency services at the scene Picture: TNV

Two men and two teenagers were rescued from the water and taken to Nepean Hospital for observation and treatment of minor injuries. Picture: TNV

She was pulled from the water unconscious and treated by paramedics but died a short time later.

She is yet to be formally identified.

“This is a tragic ending for this family on what should have been a fun day out on the water this Australia Day,” NSW Ambulance Acting Superintendent Greg Marshall said.

The tinny remained upside down beneath the water near the weir at 5pm on Wednesday.

Police divers were seen swimming around examining the red and silver boat.

Police divers attend to the overturned boat. Picture: Toby Zerna

The boat in the Nepean River. Picture: Toby Zerna

Emergency services at the scene near the Penrith Weir. Picture: Toby Zerna

The four surviving occupants of the boat have been taken to Nepean Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

The Nepean River, where the woman lost her life, was rushing with fast-moving currents on Wednesday afternoon.

Locals had posted images of the river flooding over pathways and riverbanks below the weir earlier in the day with one kayaker describing it as “dangerous conditions” in the water.

The Toll rescue helicopter at the scene. Picture: TNV

Paramedics attend to a man at the scene. Picture: TNV

A crime scene has been established and detectives are investigating the tragedy.

More than a dozen police remain at the scene, sticking to the shade to escape the heat, and no one else was seen swimming in the water.

“This is a reminder to everyone out on the water this summer on how quickly things can turn,” Acting Superintendent Marshall said.

“Paramedics are urging people to take care.”

On the Central Coast, a man also died after being pulled from the ocean.

A 62-year-old was pulled unconscious from the rough seas at Terrigal Haven at about 5pm.

Police were told the man, believed to be from Kellyville Ridge in Sydney’s northwest, was walking along the rock face surrounding the coastline and slipped into the water.

A nearby boatie located the man and pulled him from the water before darting across to the boat ramp to meet emergency services.

Police performed CPR until paramedics arrived but the man died as he was being transported to Gosford Hospital.