Man who drowned at Hut Gully Beach in Victoria identified

An Irishman visiting his daughter in Australia has been identified as the man who drowned on New Year’s Day.

An Irishman visiting his daughter over the summer has been identified as the man who drowned at a popular Victorian beach on New Year’s Day.

John Holland, 63, died after he was pulled unresponsive from the water at Hut Gully Beach off Great Ocean Rd in Anglesea on Monday.

Irish man John Holland died after he was pulled unconscious from an Anglesea beach on New Year’s Day.

Mr Holland, of Ballyragget in County Kilkenny, Ireland, had been visiting his daughter Emma, 31, in Australia with a friend.

Father Eamonn O’Gorman told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland radio program that he was devastated to learn his friend and parishioner had died.

Father O’Gorman said he understood Emma had tried to rescue Mr Holland after noticing he was in trouble.

“He went out to swim and according to his friend David Stapleton his daughter Emma went out to see if she could bring him back in and a half an hour or so later his body was washed up ashore,” he said.

“The paramedics worked on him for some time but the result was he died which is very, very sad for the family, many, many friends and parishioners and many people from around the country.”

Victorian Police confirmed that officers were told Mr Holland appeared to be in difficulty just prior to being pulled from the water.

He was visiting his daughter in Australia when he drowned.

As the Holland family begins preparations for a funeral, the tragedy comes after Mr Holland’s wife Marie died of an illness in 2022.

Mr Holland was a keen cyclist and grain business owner, having many ties to his local community and parish.

In a statement, The Deenside Wheelers Cycling Club shared that it was “shocked and saddened to hear of the sudden passing of club member John Holland”.

“Our thought and prayers are with the Holland family in this tough time,” the club stated.