Friends of a man who drowned in Rye rip say they couldn’t get to him in time

A man who drowned in treacherous waters off Rye “just wanted to be loved”, says a couple who took him in during tough times.

A man who tragically drowned on the Mornington Peninsula on Friday, was a “very well-loved” person, his close friends say.

Peter Thomas, 33, got caught in a rip about 100m offshore at Number 16 beach in Rye around 5pm Saturday.

Karen Parsonage, 37, who has been left devastated by her friend’s death, said it “happened so quickly”.

Ms Parsonage had been at the edge of the surf while her partner, Chris Drummond, 35, was playing with her 10-year-old son in shallow water.

“I could see him struggling and I just yelled to Karen to call someone,” Mr Drummond said.

“I tried to get out to him but it wasn’t safe. Within five minutes, we saw him pretty much go under the wave.”

Ms Parsonage said although Mr Thomas was a confident swimmer, he “over-estimated his swimming skills compared to how dangerous it was in the water”, and the rip “just took him”.

The couple said three surfers tried to rescue Mr Thomas but were unsuccessful due to the treacherous waters.

Rye’s ocean beaches are often treacherous. File image

The police air wing then brought him to shore where emergency crews performed CPR but he could not be revived.

Mr Drummond and Ms Parsonage, who welcomed Mr Thomas into their Rosebud home about six years ago, described him as a friendly and generous man.

“All he wanted was a family and wanted to be loved,” they said.

“He just wanted to make people smile and make the world happier and he did.”

The couple, who are still coming to terms with their friend’s death, said they wanted to share their story in the hope others knew their limits around water.

Life Saving Victoria General manager of Lifesaving Services Liam Krige said their thoughts and condolences were with the family and friends of Mr Thomas.

“Sadly, this brings the annual drowning toll to 48 since 1 July 2020,” he said.

He added: “Wherever possible, please swim at a patrolled location between the red and yellow flags.

“If you are unfamiliar with the local conditions, it’s important to read safety signage and, if possible, seek advice from a lifeguard or ranger before entering the ocean.”

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