Mitcham man Paul Baker identified as Woolamai drowning victim

A MITCHAM man who drowned at a notorious Phillip Island beach on New Year’s Day, despite swimming between flags, has been remembered as a “kind, gentle and wise soul”.

A MITCHAM man who drowned at a notorious Phillip Island beach on New Year’s Day, despite swimming between flags, has been remembered as a “kind, gentle and wise soul”.

Paul Baker, 46, got caught in a rip at Woolamai Beach just before 5pm on January 1.

MAN DROWNS AT WOOLAMAI BEACH

MAN FOUND FACE DOWN IN WATER AT RYE BEACH

He was seen struggling in the water but attempts to rescue him were unsuccessful and he died at the scene.

According to Channel 7 News, Mr Baker had been swimming in front of the surf club when he got into trouble.

Paul Baker drowned at Woolamai Beach on New Year’s Day. Picture: Facebook

Surf lifesaver Max Eldridge said the rough surf had pushed Mr Baker under the water.

“He was unfortunately hit by a couple of waves when some of our surf lifesavers were on their way out to retrieve him, but he disappeared under those waves,” Mr Eldridge said.

His body was recovered 20 minutes later about 500m away.

Online tributes flowed for Mr Baker, who was a member of the Fire Church religious group.

Fire Church posted on its Facebook page: “We weep with you at the loss of not having Paul with us anymore but we rejoice of the great testimony of his life and that he is home finally with his beloved Jesus.”

Another of Mr Baker’s friends, Jamie Smyth, posted on Facebook saying he “could not think of a nicer bloke”.

“No one will ever be able to replace you or your personality,” he said.

Christopher Marshall wrote on Facebook that Mr Baker was a “kind, gentle and wise soul”.

“I love you buddy and I will miss you and I will never forget you and all the kind things you said to me and all the things you’ve done to influence my life and the lives around us — God bless you,” he said.

Mr Baker’s death was the second at Woolamai Beach in a week after 28-year-old Hemant Govekar drowned during a swim on Christmas Day.

Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley urged people to keep safe around water to prevent more drownings.

“They’re something we don’t want and they’re very hard to explain when someone goes into the water for recreation to cool off and doesn’t come out and ultimately loses their life,” he said.

“It’s a very difficult time for anyone involved in those incidents.

“Our thoughts go out to those people but the message is lets all take something away — a lesson to learn, particularly with regards to water safety,” he said.