14 rescued from Carrum beach during horror weekend of drownings

Frustrated lifesavers rescued more than a dozen swimmers within hours near one popular, but treacherous Melbourne beach.

Frustrated Victorian lifesavers have rescued more than a dozen people in a single day near a popular swimming beach.

Rescuers from the Carrum Surf Life Saving Club rescued 14 people within a few hours on Sunday and another two on Saturday.

They were all near the mouth of the Patterson River and club president Ben Rooks said it was never safe to swim in that area.

“It’s only due to some quick reactions and a large dose of luck that we’ve not had a tragedy here,” Mr Rooks said.

The first rescue was of a 21-year-old man who got into trouble trying to help a child in distress in the river channel before lifesavers pulled him from the water.

Other rescues included three teens who drifted into the river. A four-year-old and other crews were called to help a fifth swimmer in the water.

A person was also taken into hospital on Sunday evening.

Patrol captain Cath Paulsen said it was the highest number of river rescues carried out by the club.

Frustrated Carrum lifesavers rescued 14 people within hours of each other over the weekend.

Waring signs near the mouth of the Patterson River.

“There is a steep drop-off due to the river channel and when you combine that with strong currents, due to winds and tides like today, it’s the perfect scenario for people to get into difficulty,” she said.

“While we regularly monitor this area and frequently perform rescues here, we’ve never had so many in one day.”

It comes as seven people drowned in Victoria’s waterways in the week following Christmas Day.

On Sunday morning, police recovered a seven-year-old boy’s body from the Snowy River in the state’s east after he went missing while swimming on New Year’s Day.

Emergency services were also called to Princetown on the Great Ocean Road on Sunday after three swimmers got into trouble in rough conditions near the mouth of the Gellibrand River.

A private helicopter was able to rescue the trio and CPR was commenced on a 35-year-old man but he died at the scene.

On Thursday, a female angler drowned after being swept into rough waters near Kilcunda.

The same day, a toddler died in hospital after falling into a Footscray pond earlier in the week.

Swimmers got into trouble near the mouth of the Gellibrand River at Princetown.

One of the swimmers arrives at The Alfred hospital. Picture: Nine News

Christmas Day was also marred by drownings, with a 29-year-old man unable to be revived at Newport Lakes Reserve.

Emergency services were also called to Lake Wendouree at Ballarat after the body of a Wendouree man, 44, was found by a passer-by on Christmas morning.

Along the Murray River, the body of a man who went missing while swimming with mates on Christmas was found on New Year’s Eve.

A week-long search came to a devastating end after Julius “Jules” Lunanga’s body was discovered a short distance from the Kremur St boat ramp.

The latest fatalities bring the drowning toll to 25 for this financial year to date, including nine since summer started – well above the 10-year average of 20 deaths.

Lifesavers have carried out more than 40 rescues over the past three days as thousands of Victorians flocked to the water to escape the summer heat.

Life Saving Victoria general manager of Lifesaving Services Liam Krige pleaded with Victorians to take water safety seriously.

A toddler drowned in this pond at Footscray Park last week. Picture: Ian Currie

“The last thing we want to see is festivities turn into fatalities, but tragically, four people have died from drowning since New Year’s Eve and seven since Christmas,” Mr Krige said.

“It’s an absolutely horror start to 2022.

“It’s clear people aren’t taking the risks around water seriously, and we’re incredibly concerned we’re going to see further devastation in and around our waterways.”

Mr Krige urged Victorians to swim at patrolled beaches, to avoid drugs and alcohol around the water and to constantly supervise children.

“Twenty seconds is all it takes for a child to drown in just a few centimetres of water,” he said.

“So remember to keep kids under five within arm’s reach, and under-10s in eyesight.”

A man also died after he was pulled from the water having suffered a medical episode at St Kilda Sea Baths about 2.30pm on Sunday. He has not been counted as a drowning, with an autopsy to be conducted to determine the cause of death.