Irishman John Holland, 63, named as Anglesea drowning victim

An Irish national was visiting his daughter for the “holiday of a lifetime” when he drowned at a beach near Anglesea.

63-year-old Irish man John Holland drowned at Hutt Gully beach south of Anglesea on New Year’s Day.

An Irish national who drowned at a beach just south of Anglesea on New Year’s Day is being remembered as a “gentleman”.

Irish media named 63-year-old John Holland as the victim of a drowning at Hutt Gully Beach on Monday.

It’s been reported Mr Holland was on holiday visiting his daughter Emma, who had recently moved to Melbourne, at the time of the tragedy.

Father Eamonn O’Gorman, the parish priest of Mr Holland's home village of Ballyragget in County Kilkenny, told the Irish Times Mr Holland was “a lovely gentleman who would help people out”.

It’s understood Mr Holland was visiting his daughter at the time. Picture: Irish Times

“He seemed so happy, so happy out there with Emma,” Father O’Gorman said.

“A holiday of a lifetime but little did we think that we’d be bringing him home dead.

“He had great love for his family and his family came number one.”

According to the Irish Times, the grain merchant was well known locally and had lost his wife Marie to illness in 2022.

Local councillor Michael McCarthy told the masthead “all I understand is that a big wave came in”.

“Unfortunately he wasn’t able to get away from it,” Mr McCarthy said.

“I believe his daughter was very lucky, she escaped.”

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said Mr Holland “entered the water and was immediately caught in a rip.”

“A 31-year-old female, who observed he was in distress, swam out to him and attempted to assist,” she said.

Police were told witnesses saw Mr Holland come into difficulty just before he was pulled from the water.

A Life Saving Victoria spokesman called the tragedy “a timely reminder to know and stick to your limits in the water and to always swim at a patrolled location.”

There were no other reported drowning deaths in Victoria on January 1.

Originally published as Irishman John Holland, 63, named as Anglesea drowning victim