Diver drowns at Cape Schanck on Christmas Day after two die the day before in Phillip Island tragedy

The diving partner of a St Albans man who drowned on Christmas Day had to watch from the rocks as his friend perished, in Victoria’s third devastating drowning in two days.

The spot where a man drowned yesterday while diving at Cape Schanck. Picture: Sarah Matray

A helpless friend watched as his 64-year-old diving partner drowned off the rocks at Cape Schanck on Christmas Day.

The man from St Albans was diving for abalone about 6.30pm when he got into trouble in choppy water.

“The male friend was on the rocks at the time,” Rosebud acting sergeant Nick Simonis said.

“He wasn’t diving and he wasn’t able to assist him, unfortunately, in getting out of the water.”

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The spot was popular for divers but its remote location means it is not patrolled.

An emergency helicopter was called in and the man’s body was retrieved from rocks by the water.

“We urge the community to be mindful of swimming conditions, obviously to swim on patrolled beaches between the flags,” acting sergeant Simonis said.

“It’s particularly distressing for the family. It is difficult to lose family at any stage but particularly during the Christmas period.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family.”

A diver drowned off the rocks at the southeasternmost point of the Mornington Peninsula. Picture: Sarah Matray

Acting Sergeant Nick Simonis speaks to media. Picture: Sarah Matray

In March 2015, human remains and a piece of wetsuit were found days after two shellfish divers aged 42 and 34 went missing at Fingal Beach, near Cape Schanck.

And a Box Hill man died at Cape Schanck on Christmas Day in 2009 when he was swept into the sea while rock fishing.

It comes after a Christmas Eve trip to a Phillip Island beach turned to tragedy for a Melbourne family when a father and son drowned as a mother watched on from the shore.

A father and son drowned at The Colonnades, Phillip Island on Sunday. Picture: Sarah Matray

A young girl leaves flowers at The Colonnades after the Christmas Eve drownings. Picture: Sarah Matray

The Cranbourne East man was swimming with his two sons at The Colonnades, on Phillip Island, around 5.30pm on Monday when emergency services were alerted to the distressed swimmers.

Paramedics performed CPR on the 45-year-old father who was pulled from the water, but he could not be revived.

The Air Wing and volunteer lifesavers from Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club hauled a 20-year-old man from the surf but he also died at the scene.

The third swimmer, a 12-year-old boy, was taken by ambulance to Monash Children’s Hospital in a stable condition after swimming to safety.

Melbourne local Gabby, who has a holiday house nearby, said people rushed to help the family.

Local man Steven Bourke warns a family against swimming at The Colonnades on Christmas Day. Picture: Sarah Matray

A warning sign at The Colonnades, Phillip Island. Picture: Sarah Matray

“When I got there, one had already been rescued, but the other was still missing,” she said.

“There were some people trying to calm the mum down. She was on the beach and her sons were in the water.”

The 15-year-old, who has her bronze lifesaving certificate, said she offered to help but rescuers have already started the defibrillator and CPR.

Senior Sergeant Andrew O’Brien said it appeared swimming capabilities and a lack of understanding of local conditions contributed to the tragedy for the family of Indian decent.

He said the beach was a notoriously dangerous surf beach.

“That part of the beach wasn’t patrolled, it’s a surf beach … and if the surf life saving club is saying it’s too dangerous, then it is,” he said.

“We’re imploring people to swim between the flags and during patrol hours.

Beachgoers were warned not to swim at the dangerous beach. Picture: Sarah Matray

“It’s a tragic start to our holiday season and it’s something we see far too much.

“We want everyone to come and enjoy our beaches but to also go home safe.”

Sgt O’Brien also said he has lived in the area for 20 years and has never let his children swim at The Colonnades.

Conditions around the area were treacherous on Christmas Eve, with Woolamai Beach Surf Lifesaving Club warning people to avoid the beach due to dangerous conditions.

“The information we’ve received from the members down there is that the conditions were certainly challenging,” Life Saving Victoria state duty officer Kane Treloar said.

“We urge all beachgoers to check the conditions before going out to the water and to choose a location that matches their abilities.”

Local surfer Mark Chandler also said conditions on Christmas Eve were especially dangerous.

Phillip Island’s wild beaches have claimed at least five lives since January 2016. Picture: Eugene Hyland

“Yesterday’s swell just kept on growing. It was a freak swell,” Mr Chandler said.

“Unless you knew the beach well, you just wouldn’t (go swimming).”

The Colonnades are on the western end of the notorious Woolamai Surf Beach — Phillip Island’s longest and most exposed beach.

According to Beachsafe, the beach is an “exposed, high energy beach” with waves averaging 1.5m.

Unsuitable for bathing, strong rips dominate the surf zone, with permanent rips against the reefs.

Despite the safety advice, 55 people are rescued from nearby Woolamai annually.

Mitcham man Paul Baker, 46, died at the treacherous stretch of water after being caught in a rip on New Year’s Day this year, despite swimming between the flags.

That same beach has claimed three other lives, including that of Indian student Hemant Govekar, 28, who last year disappeared while having a Christmas Day swim. His body was found the following day.

Two people — a man and a woman aged in their 20s — were also killed after being swept away by a rip at Cape Woolamai outside lifesaving patrol hours in January 2016. Seven people in total were pulled from the water by surfers and volunteer lifeguards that day.

And in January this year, an elderly woman from Doncaster drowned at Phillip Island’s Red Rock Beach at Cowes while swimming with her family.

Life Saving Victoria this year recorded 23 drowning deaths last summer, with half of all drownings occurring at beaches.

Police will investigate the Christmastime drowning tragedies and prepare a report for the coroner.

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