Lifesavers implore swimmers to be safe as more tragic drownings unfold

In a horror start to the New Year, four people have drowned in separate states in less than 24 hours, prompting serious warnings from lifesavers.

The first day of 2019 has turned even more tragic, with two more drownings taking this year’s death toll to four in less than 24 hours.

Victoria’s spate of drownings has continued after a 45-year-old man died while swimming with family at a holiday resort town in the Gippsland region yesterday.

The Bairnsdale man had been swimming for about 20 minutes with his wife and family in waters off Sunset Drive in Paynesville about 4.50pm when he began to struggle to stay afloat.

He was pulled unconscious from the water but attempts to revive him were unsuccessful and he died at the scene.

In northern Tasmania a 66-year-man was pulled from the surf at Hawley Beach just after 3pm on New Year’s Day and could not be resuscitated.

Reports will now be prepared for the coroner.

It comes as 10 people in Australia, including six in Victoria, have drowned since Christmas Eve.

Also on New Year’s Day a 34-year-old man was pulled unconscious from the water at Clovelly Beach, 8km south of Sydney’s CBD, just before 2pm.

A doctor, already at the scene, attempted resuscitation until paramedics arrived at the beach.

Curious beachgoers gathered close by after an ambulance vehicle suddenly arrived on the quiet beach.

#Clovelly Not a good start to 2019 for some pic.twitter.com/7uiVX7SCKo

— Yaku (@Moesamoeroep) January 1, 2019

Despite several attempts at resuscitation, as well as a defibrillator to restart his heart, the man didn’t respond and was pronounced dead shortly after 3pm.

Eastern Beaches Police Area Command will now investigate the circumstances.

The 34-year-old man was unable to be resuscitated, despite the use of CPR and a defibrillator. Picture: Nine News

Just minutes later, Queensland emergency services were called to Frenchman’s Beach, on North Stradbroke Island, after reports that a man had been pulled from the surf in a critical condition.

Paramedics worked on the man, aged in his 40s, for more than an hour before he was pronounced dead.

Police investigate a drowning at Clovelly, NSW. Picture: 9 News

Drowning deaths in Australia are up 40 per cent compared to the same time last year.

Surf Life Saving Australia’s Steve Pearce said tragically every five days one person had drowned on the NSW South Coast so far this year.

Last month 42 people drowned in Australian waters, including a number of foreigners.

— with AAP