Four rescued at the same beach where a man drowned

A spate of near-deadly incidents at Victorian beaches over the weekend has prompted calls for the public to take care in the water.

A man has died after his boat capsized at Anglesea. File image: AAP

Four swimmers have been rescued at the same beach where a man drowned just a day earlier.

And lifesavers dealt with a string of serious incidents elsewhere as the hot weather brought people to the beach.

An Ambulance Victoria spokesman said four people were swimming at Thirteenth Beach near Barwon Heads on Sunday when they were caught in a rip about 2.30pm.

They were pulled from the water by surfers and swimmers before paramedics arrived.

Two teenage girls were treated for cuts and abrasions and a man aged in his 20s was also treated at the scene.

A second man, aged in his 40s, was taken to Geelong Hospital in a stable condition after swallowing water.

About 20 minutes later, and further down the coast at Separation Creek on the Great Ocean Road, two men aged in their 20s were rescued by surf lifesavers.

They were treated by paramedics and were expected to be taken by road to Geelong Hospital.

The dangerous rip at 13th Beach on Sunday, where four swimmers got into trouble. Picture: Life Saving Victoria

Meanwhile in Altona, a woman reportedly had to be resuscitated after she was pulled from the water about 3.50pm. She was understood to have regained consciousness and was transported to hospital in a stable condition.

In a fifth incident, another woman was helped back to shore after she found herself 40m offshore at St Andrews Beach, Mornington Peninsula.

The spate of near-deadly incidents prompted calls by emergency services for the public to take care in the water.

Life Saving Victoria director of lifesaving services Kane Treloar took to social media to plead with Victorians to “swim at patrolled beaches”.

“People are needlessly dying on our beaches. They are mothers and fathers, husbands and wives, brothers and sisters,” he posted.

Victoria has recorded 17 drownings since December 1, including seven in the past 10 days, which is quadruple the five-year average.

Four people were rescued at Thirteenth beach on Sunday. Picture: Josie Hayden

TWO MEN DIE IN HORROR DAY AT VICTORIAN BEACHES

Two men have died in separate tragedies on Victoria’s Surf Coast on Saturday.

A 58-year man was thrown into the water off Anglesea Beach after his small boat reportedly capsized in the afternoon.

He died at the scene despite the efforts of lifesavers, who pulled him from the water and performed CPR.

A source told the Herald Sun that reports the victim was not wearing a life jacket were incorrect.

Instead, the man was wearing a life jacket, which had failed to inflate. Flotation devices can fail if not maintained.

Another male who was aboard the boat had made it to shore shortly after 2pm and raised the alarm.

Separately, a man died on Saturday afternoon after he was pulled from the water off Thirteenth Beach at Barwon Heads.

The 56-year-old local man had been swimming with two others in large surf when they got into difficulty about 5pm.

A man has drowned at Thirteenth Beach in Barwon Heads. Picture: Toby Lee.

The lifesaver helicopter and police attended the scene at Thirteenth Beach. Picture: Toby Lee.

A boy and girl were helped back to shore but the man died at the scene.

Life Saving Victoria state agency commander Liam Krige said the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter was sent to the beach.

“The aircraft sent a rescue swimmer down to the man,” Mr Krige said.

“The man was subsequently returned to the shore, where he was handed over to waiting paramedics from Ambulance Victoria.

“Tragically, the man could not be revived and was pronounced deceased.

“Our hearts go out to this man’s family and friends. We are grateful that two people could be rescued in this incident today.” Mr Krige said Life Saving Victoria’s thoughts were also with the family and friends of the man who died off Anglesea beach.

“It’s a timely reminder to always wear a lifejacket when boating and ensure it’s maintained, as it buys you time to survive,” Mr Krige said.

He was unable to say whether or not the man had been wearing a life jacket.

“If you’re thinking about heading out on the water, please research the dangers of the activity and stay informed of the conditions,” he said.

It comes less than two weeks after a horror day on Victorian waters claimed four lives in four separate incidents.

Mother of four Aida Hamed, 45, died on January 13 after she and three others were swept off rocks at Bushrangers Bay near Cape Schanck.

The group was exploring rock pools when two large waves smashed into them.

An off-duty lifesaver and a bystander leapt in to try to save the group.

All six had to be rescued, but Ms Hamed did not survive.

On the same day, Lisa Mandeltort, 29 died while trying to save a teenage girl who was struggling in the water at Venus Bay.

Hours earlier, an 80-year-old man was pulled unresponsive from the water at Rye front beach and could not be revived.

That evening, a four-year-old girl was pulled from Lysterfield Lake. She was taken to hospital but later died.