Five drown in NSW and Victoria over Easter long weekend

Five people have drowned and one man remains missing after a series of tragedies across New South Wales and Victoria over the Easter long weekend.

Five people have died after being washed into dangerous waters across the country, prompting surf lifesavers to issue urgent warnings against swimming or fishing during hazardous conditions over the Easter long weekend.

The latest incident occurred at Kianinny Bay near the Kangarutha Walking Track in Tathra, on the NSW Far South Coast, on Saturday morning.

Emergency services were called to the area about 8.15am after reports a rock fisherman was in the water.

Officers from the South Coast Police District, along with Marine Rescue, NSW Ambulance paramedics, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, Surf Life Saving NSW and Marine Area Command, launched a major search operation.

About 10.40am, a body was located in nearby waters. While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the fisherman.

Police have launched an investigation, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The death marks the fifth water-related fatality this Easter.

A woman has died and a man is missing after a group was washed off rocks at a beach in San Remo in Victoria on Friday. Picture: 9News

On Friday, a man drowned at City Rock Road, Green Cape on the NSW south coast about 3pm.

According to police, he had been fishing before being washed off rocks. A short time later, a body was located in the water. The body is yet to be formally identified.

Another fisherman died earlier that day after being swept off a rock wall at Endeavour Dr at the Wollongong Harbour about 6.15am. He was pulled from the water unconscious.

Despite resuscitation attempts from police, the 58-year-old man could not be saved.

“Initial inquiries have led police to believe the man was fishing on a rock wall nearby when he was swept into the water,” a police statement read.

A report will be prepared for the coroner, and police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident and has not spoken to authorities to come forward.

Another person drowned in an incident at Middle Head in Mosman.

Emergency services were called to Middle Head Point at 10.20am on Friday following reports of a concern for the welfare of a man in the water.

Police, with assistance from Surf Life Saving NSW, Marine Rescue, NSW Ambulance paramedics and Marine Area Command, commenced an operation to locate the man. A short time later, a body was located in nearby water.

While the body is yet to be formally identified, it is believed to be that of the man.

Initial inquiries have led police to believe the man was on rocks when he fell into the water.

One woman has died and another man is missing in the Victorian waters. Picture: 9News

Later that morning, emergency services were called to a beach off Punch Bowl Road in San Remo, in Victoria’s south, after three people were swept into the sea.

“One of the women managed to make her way back to shore but the other woman and the man were unable to,” Victoria Police said.

The Air Wing conducted a helicopter search for the two missing people and discovered an unresponsive woman in the waves.

She was pulled from the water and brought back to shore, but could not be revived.

The search for the missing man is ongoing.

Surf Lifesavers have urged swimmers to be extra cautious while in the water during the Easter holidays, as the chance of drowning is four times higher over this long weekend than other periods of the year.

Over the last decade, there were 630 drownings at unpatrolled beaches, 85 per cent of which were males.

Of these deaths, 59 per cent occurred while the person was swimming or wading in the water.

He has urged holidaygoers to visit patrolled beaches during the long weekends, as lifesavers are on “high alert”.

“Patrolled beaches are the safest place for people to swim and enjoy our oceans,” Surf Life Saving Australia chief executive Adam Weir said.

“But we know that Aussies and visitors to our country like to go off the beaten track to enjoy camping, fishing and other coastal activities.

“But these coastal locations can present dangers, some that you can see and some that you can’t, which is why we have some simple advice: Stop, Look, Stay Alive.”

More drownings are recorded over long weekends than any other point in the year. Picture: NewsWire / David Swift

The Bureau of Meteorology have cautioned NSW residents to be extra cautious of hazardous wave conditions off the coast, spanning the Byron Coast, Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast.

“Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming in the following areas,” a bureau statement read.

Swimmers have been urged to stay away from the water until the hazardous conditions pass, and people have been advised to avoid walking near surf-exposed areas over the Easter long weekend.

Originally published as Five drown in NSW and Victoria over Easter long weekend