Aida Hamed drowns at Bushrangers Bay after being swept off rocks

The family of Bushrangers Bay drowning victim Aida Hamed feared they would be blocked from her funeral because of border closures.

Aida Hamed, who tragically drowned on the Mornington Peninsula on Wednesday, was “loved by everyone”, her daughter-in-law says.

But Alisar Najem and her partner, Aida’s son, Daniel Hamed, feared they would be blocked from saying goodbye to Aida at her funeral because of border closures.

Ms Najem was told “we are going to terminate your call” and hung up on twice while pleading for an exemption with the Victorian health department’s COVID-19 hotline, she said.

She spoke to different hotline staff members on Thursday and Friday.

Both hung up on her when she wouldn’t take “we can’t help you” for an answer, she said.

Ms Najem and Mr Hamad, both 25, struggled for two days to get a definite answer on whether they could enter Victoria for the funeral.

However, on Friday evening the exemption was eventually granted after 24 hours of dicussions between the family and DHHS.

“We cannot comment on individual cases but exemptions requested on compassionate grounds are top priority and processed as quickly as possible - our thoughts are with the family during this difficult time,” the department said in a statement.

Previously, Ms Najem repeatedly contacted Service NSW, the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, the supplied email address for Victorian border exemption permits and the COVID hotline, but was consistently told “we don’t know”.

“We have tried every government department — I’m not joking,” she said.

“It’s really frustrating because, what do you mean, you don’t know? Who can help us?

“There’s no compassion. Why aren’t they being trained to have compassion?”

She said DHHS called her at 5.40pm on Friday before her planned 6pm flight to Melbourne confirming they would be able to enter Victoria for the funeral, after Ms Najem spoke to media.

Ms Najem first called at 7am on Thursday and kept trying until she received the answer, she said.

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BROTHER SEEKS TO SUPPORT FOUR ‘BEAUTIFUL’ CHILDREN

Ms Hamed’s brother is reeling at the sudden death of his older sister who “loved” the beach.

Nizar Ibrahim is hoping to raise money for the four “beautiful” children Aida Hamed, 45, left behind when she and three others were swept off rocks at Bushrangers Bay near Cape Schanck on Wednesday.

Mr Ibrahim said he wants to keep the children living together to support them after losing their mother, a caring woman who “lived life to the fullest” and loved being around her family and friends.

“She loved the outdoors and most of all the beach,” Mr Ibrahim said.

“That day she had called my wife and was telling her about this beach that she had found and how it was the most amazing beautiful place she had seen.”

Friends remembered Aida Hamed as “an angel too good for this place”. Picture: Facebook

Who would have thought that this would be the place to take her.”

Mr Ibrahim said his sister’s death has touched everyone she knew.

“We are currently going through a hard time to accept what has happened,” he said.

“Everyone that knew her is saddened by this tragedy.”

Mr Ibrahim said he will remember his sister as a kind woman who made the most of any opportunity she had in life.

“Aida was one of the most beautiful, caring people that you could ever meet,” he said.

Ms Hamed leaves behind three of her children in Melbourne and a son who resides in Sydney with his father.

Her 16-year-old daughter is due to begin her VCE studies at the start of this school year.

Ms Hamed’s friend and her older daughter, who survived the horror incident, remain at Frankston Hospital in a stable condition.

BYSTANDERS HAILED AS HEROIC

An off-duty lifesaver and a brave bystander are being hailed as heroes after leaping into treacherous surf to help four females swept off rocks at Bushrangers Bay

Mornington Peninsula Local Area Commander Inspector Janene Denton said the men — a 24-year-old off-duty lifesaver from Torquay and a 48-year-old Koo Wee Rup man — grabbed a surfboard and raced to help the women struggling in the surf.

“They huddled the group together and kept them afloat until help arrived,” Inspector Denton said.

“If it hadn’t been for them we would have had more deaths here yesterday.”

The terrifying incident started about 3.30pm when two large waves smashed into the group who were exploring rock pools near the water’s edge.

A view of Bushrangers Bay near where the women were swept into the water.

“None of the group were in the water at the time, and it was calm,” Inspector Denton said.

“I understand the waves came out of nowhere.”

Inspector Denton said it wasn’t clear who called for help but a rescue mission involving the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, air ambulance and a police helicopter and a police vessel was launched quickly.

Inspector Denton said the Westpac chopper winched a 47-year-old woman and her 19-year-old daughter to safety.

Her other daughter, 13, was taken to safety by the police vessel.

Inspector Denton said the beach was popular with walkers and beachcombers and had been busy since the end of lockdown.

A sign at the entrance to the beach at Bushrangers Bay.

It was known to be dangerous and a sign warning of sudden large waves, strong rip currents and unstable cliff edges is prominentally displayed at the only entrance to the beach.

There are also signs warning that the beach is dangerous for swimming, has high surf and slippery and submerged rocks and unstable cliffs.

Inspector Denton said it was important people “knew the risks” when visiting any beach.

“We’re not going to tell people not visit our beautiful beaches.

“But they need to be aware of their own abilities and understand that this beach is treacherous.

“It’s also remote and difficult for emergency services to reach.”

Bushrangers Bay is within Mornington Peninsula National Park and can only be reached on foot via steep bush tracks from one of two car parks.

Each track is more than 2km long and phone reception is patchy.

On Thursday the Boneo Rd car park was full and a steady stream of walkers were on the path.

DROWNING VICTIM LOVED THE OUTDOORS

Family and friends of Ms Hamed, an Australia Post employee, are devastated by her shock death.

A relative told the Herald Sun Ms Hamed was a beautiful woman who was loved by many.

Aida Hamed, 45, died at Bushrangers Bay. Picture: Facebook

The drowning victim loved the outdoors.

A woman drowned at Bushrangers Bay after a group was washed off the rocks. Picture: David Caird

“Aida’s passing is very tragic … I can’t bring myself to snap out of the shock,” the relative said.

“She was a humble human, always left a mark on people’s hearts wherever she went … never was the type to upset anyone.

“She was an angel too good for this place and God took her home.”

Another friend, Sawsan Arja, paid tribute to Ms Hamed in the wake of the tragedy.

“You always stood out of all people by your cute character and your big heart. Those of us who got to know you were very lucky for having crossed paths with you, you now have God by your side,” he said.

Paramedics and police at Bushrangers Bay on Wednesday. Picture: 7 News

Australia Post said it was “deeply saddened” by Ms Hamed’s death.

“She was a much-loved member of Australia Post’s Lalor Licensed Post Office,” a spokesperson said.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to Aida’s family and colleagues at this sad time.”

Ms Hamed loved the outdoors and would frequently post happy snaps of herself at picturesque locations, including the beach, mountains and rainforest.

It’s understood she visited Bushrangers Bay with a friend, aged 47, and her friend’s daughters, aged 13 and 19, who survived the ocean tragedy.

The group of northern suburbs residents was swept into the treacherous waters, prompting two members of the public, men aged 24 and 48, to leap into the water to help.

Four people were taken to Frankston Hospital and one to Rosebud Hospital.

Ms Hamed’s friend and her daughter are recovering from the ordeal. Picture: David Caird

Ms Hamed’s friend and her older daughter remain at Frankston Hospital in a stable condition.

The 13-year-old girl was released from hospital on Wednesday evening.

Ms Hamed’s relative said: “The lady that was with her is in shock and is in hospital with her daughter.”

Life Saving Victoria general manager Liam Krige said Bushrangers Bay was a remote stretch of coastline not patrolled by lifesavers.

“This incident is a stark reminder of the importance of always exercising caution around water and never taking your eyes off the surf,” Mr Krige said.

The drowning occurred on a horror day in Victorian waters that saw two other people die.

PREMIER SAYS TRAGEDY A REMINDER OF DANGERS

Daniel Andrews expressed his sympathies to all involved in the drownings.

“Yesterday was a tragic day, and whilst we have a big challenge every summer when it comes to deaths and a tragedy in the water I want to send my deepest sympathies to the families involved,” he said.

“I want to give a shout-out to surf lifesaving volunteers, SES volunteers and emergency services who were on the scene.

“I think it’s always important that just as we send our condolences and our best wishes to families who’ve lost a loved one, we should always remember as a community that these emergency services workers and volunteers will carry yesterday with them for the rest of their lives”.

The Premier said the tragedies were a tragic reminder of how dangerous Victoria’s coastline could be.

He urged all beachgoers to swim between the flags, check for weather warnings and swim within their ability.

Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp described the water fatalities as a “tragedy”.

“It is a sad day, where three Victorians have lost their lives,” he said.

“My thoughts go to the families, coping with what occurred.”

He attributed the state’s record drowning toll to children being denied swimming lessons throughout 2020 due to coronavirus lockdowns, as well as some coastal hotspots being inaccessible last summer due to the bushfires.

He warned parents of young children that they could not afford to relax for even a split second.

Mr Crisp also encouraged Victorians to always swim with someone else to enhance safety.

GOOD SAMARITAN TRIED TO SAVE STRUGGLING TEEN

An off-duty lifeguard who tried to save a good Samaritan at Venus Bay has been hailed a hero.

A 29-year-old Rowville woman tragically died after trying to assist a teenager who was seen struggling in the water at 7.30pm on Wednesday.

The young woman got into difficulty during the rescue.

She was pulled from the water by the off-duty lifeguard but could not be saved.

The teenager survived.

Venus Bay SLSC president Paul Hoffman described the lifeguard’s action as heroic.

A woman in her 20s tragically drowned at Venus Bay. File picture

“It was a massive effort from the man,” Mr Hoffman said.

“It’s devastating when anyone dies on the beach.”

Mr Hoffman said emergency services did an “outstanding job” to recover the woman.

In a separate incident on the Mornington Peninsula, police said emergency services were called to Rye front beach about 4pm after a man in his 80s was pulled unconscious from the water.

He could not be revived.

And at 5.50pm, a four-year-old Doveton girl was flown to hospital in a critical condition after she was found unresponsive in the water at Lysterfield Lake in Melbourne’s southeast.

— Additional reporting: Olivia Jenkins, Sophie Welsh, Shannon Deery