Man dies at Fingal beach death trap on Northern NSW coast

POLICE have identified the man who drowned off Fingal Beach yesterday as Tomoe Ogisu of Japan. Lifesaving buoys are set to be ‘fast-tracked’ and installed at the headland as early as next week.

The search for a missing swimmer Fingal Head.

UPDATE: Police have identified the man who drowned in surf at Fingal Head yesterday afternoon.

Tomoe Ogisu, 22, had jumped into water at the headland with a friend before being caught in a rip.

Ogisu, from Japan, had been living in Coolangatta and working in Kingscliff for about four months.

Tomoe Ogisu, 22, jumped into water at the headland with a friend before he drowned after getting caught in a rip. Photo: Facebook

Mr Ogisu’s social media pages show a man who loved hanging out with his friends at the beach whether it was for a quick dip or a surf.

His accounts show he had a passion for adventure, travel and photography.

He was enjoying his time in Australia having visited Sydney, the Gold Coast and spent time in northern NSW including at Byron Bay.

His Italian friend Marc Roncador, who is travelling around Australia, wrote a heartfelt message on Instagram.

Tomoe Ogisu, 22, jumped into water at the headland with a friend before he drowned after getting caught in a rip. Photo: Facebook

“Brother/Kyodai R.I.P. YASURAKA NI NEMUTTE KUDASAI. The time with you was too short. You was so young! We had a awesome time together in coolangatta. I’m (proud) to call you my brother. U are a legend and 4ever in my heart. i will always remember you. I hope i see u again in the heaven. Tomoe wa eien ni watashi no kokoro ni qrimasu. zuttu kyodai da to omotte imasu.”

The search resumed this morning for a man feared drowned at Dreamtime Beach. Photo: Liana Turner

EARLIER: Lifesaving buoys could be installed at Fingal Head as early as next week after bureaucratic red tape held the integral devices back for more than two years.

Yesterday, Tweed MP Geoff Provest told the Gold Coast Bulletin buoys would be installed on the headland within four weeks.

This morning Mr Provest said he was hopeful the ‘angel rings’ could be installed “in a week or two.”

It comes after the drowning of a 22-year-old backpacker off a notorious stretch of beach called Dreamtime.

His body was found this morning by divers and volunteers. It’s the fourth death in three years in the area.

“I’m trying to fast track them,” he said.

“I’m hopeful of that. I’ve been lobbying the corridors of power.

“They won’t save everyone, it’s not a sugar pill, people still have to be responsible for their actions.

“All we can do is try.”

Mr Provest had just emerged from a meeting with primary industries where crown land had finally signed off on the lifesaving rings’ installation.

Dylan Carpenter drowned during a surf at Fingal Headland in October 2017. Photo: Facebook.

He said there was also a push for an emergency beacon to be placed along the headland from Surf Life Saving NSW, but at a cost of $35,000, the position and timing of this item would still need to be debated.

“I’m having a round table meeting soon with police, surf life saving, council and other government officials,” he said.

Earlier today, wrought conditions and rain hampered efforts to rescue a man swept out to sea at notorious Fingal Head yesterday afternoon.

Surf lifesavers were out on jetskis and boats this morning.

Funeral at Melaleuca Station Memorial Gardens for Dylan Carpenter the 20yr old who drowned at Fingal Beach. Photo by Richard Gosling

The retrieval mission began close to the headland among treacherous rocks.

One rescuer fell off a jetski due to dangerous conditions, so volunteers are being cautious.

The man’s identity is unknown, but police have confirmed he is a backpacker who worked in the area.

Sydney-based divers were called in to help find the 25-year-old’s body, after he disappeared during a swim with a friend about 3pm (NSW time) at the unpatrolled Dreamtime Beach on the southern end of Fingal Head.

The search was stopped at 7.30pm (NSW time) because of bad light and dangerous conditions, including shark sightings.

The scene at Fingal Head NSW as search continues for missing swimmer

Tweed Byron Police District Superintendent Wayne Starling said emergency services had to postpone their retrieval of the man, whose body was close to dangerous rocks at the headland.

He described conditions in the water as “atrocious” and said rescuers were unable to use the helicopter near the headland or get a jet ski close enough to the man’s body to safely retrieve him.

“We can’t use a helicopter because of the conditions,” he said.

“It’s all whitewater so it’s too dangerous and shallow to put someone in there.

“The jetski can’t get close enough.”

While one witness said the man was swept off the headland, authorities say he and his friend were swimming in the water.

They said the second men swam to shore.

Fingal beach from the headland. Picture Glenn Hampson

The backpackers were living and working in northern NSW.

Witness Dan Merkel, taking photos of the wild conditions on his camera, said he “noticed two boys on the headland but they really caught my attention when one of them fell in”.

“The other guy put both of his hands on his head and was jumping around.”

Mr Merkel compared the turbulent conditions to a “washing machine”.

“The waves would have bashed him into the rocks and pushed him under. I didn’t see him after he fell in. I tried to take photos but the waves were enormous.”