Man drowns at Breamlea beach

A MAN has drowned at a Bellarine Peninsula beach, despite the best efforts of passers-by and paramedics to save him in calm conditions. It is the latest in a series of December drownings across Australia.

A man has drowned at Breamlea beach on a sweltering summer day. Picture: File image

A GREYHOUND wandered the beach hunting for his master on Wednesday after a man drowned on the Bellarine Peninsula.

Police tonight confirmed a man in his 60s was pulled from the water at Breamlea near Torquay on Wednesday night, after passersby noticed he was in trouble.

He was unconscious when he was dragged to shore.

THESE PEOPLE ARE MOST LIKELY TO DROWN

Ambulance officers did their best to revive the man, but he died.

A witness said the man may have had a heart attack while cooling off.

“The water can be treacherous down there, but today it was more like glass,” he said.

“We saw a greyhound running around on the beach looking for his owner. It’s really sad.”

Police said the man was yet to be formally identified but the witness added that the man was thought to be a local.

“You don’t really get tourists come here, it’s such a tiny place,” he said.

Ambulance officers confirmed they had attended the beach near Blyth and Vagg streets but were unable to give more details.

It follows the drowning of a 44-year-old Sydenham man who died while helping rescue his children at Skenes Creek on December 22.

WARNING ISSUED AS VICTORIAN DROWNINGS SOAR

YARRA RIVER’S HIDDEN HORROR DEATH TOLL

Drownings in the Christmas to New Year period increased across the country last year with four times the average reported.

The recently released Victorian Drowning Report for 2016/17 revealed 45 people lost their lives to drowning in Victoria during the 2016/17 financial year, a 20 per cent increase on the ten-year average.

Investigations are underway into Wednesday’s drowning.