Woman drowns in Lake Victoria, fifth victim in six days

A selfless mother has drowned while trying to rescue a child at a lake in eastern Victoria. The tragedy is the state’s fifth drowning in six days.

A woman has tragically died in Victoria’s fifth drowning within six days. Picture: Greg Carter

A mum has drowned while trying to rescue a child at a lake in eastern Victoria.

The 34-year-old woman was with her kids, aged 6 and 7, and another child when one got into difficulty while swimming at Lake Victoria, in Forge Creek, near Paynesville, about 1pm.

Bairnsdale Sergeant John Hodder said the woman entered the water to help the child but came into trouble herself.

All the kids managed to get to shore but were unable to rescue the mother.

They raced to their dad who was working at a nearby home but it was too late.

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A woman has drowned at a lake in eastern Victoria. Picture: Greg Carter

Sgt Hodder said: “The kids ran back to a house to make contact with her husband who was working on the property.”

“He attended as soon as possible but his wife had drowned. He retrieved her body from the water.”

He said early indications suggest the local woman of Filipino descent was “not a strong swimmer.”

It is not yet clear if the child she saved was her own.

The child was wearing a lifejacket at the time.

Sgt Hodder warned swimmers to remain vigilant by the water.

“People need to be aware and don’t exceed capabilities around the water,” he said.

Police say she was pulled from the water but could not be revived. Picture: Greg Carter

The woman is the fifth person to drown in Victoria in the past six days.

A father, 45, and son, 20, drowned in the surf at Phillip Island on Christmas Eve, while a younger brother, 11, managed to swim to shore.

On Christmas Day a 64-year-old man drowned while diving for abalone with a friend in Cape Schank.

On Boxing Day, Indian tourist Harmanjot Singh Walia, 27, drowned in front of his wife and friends after being caught under a rock ledge at MacKenzie Falls near the Grampians.

Lifesaving Victoria CEO Nigel Taylor has warned swimmers to stay safe by the water following a nationwide spate of drownings.

Over 30 people have drowned across Australia since the start of December.

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