Ocean Grove drowning: Coroner calls for new water safety guidelines
There are calls for water safety guidelines to be strengthened after a young girl drowned in Ocean Grove during treacherous conditions.
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There are calls for stronger water safety guidelines after a young girl drowned at an Ocean Grove beach during treacherous conditions, a coronial report has revealed.
Cienna Jervies, 12, from Clifton Springs died in September 2023 after getting caught in a rip.
Coroner Simon McGregor has recommended a new document be introduced for all agencies to be aligned in their responsibilities to keep locals safe by the water.
The coronial report stated Cienna and her friend were swimming near the water’s edge about 6pm on September 19, 2023.
Her mother and grandmother were sitting about 15m up the shore and had “glanced away for only a second” before they lost sight of the girls.
They started to scream for help and called triple-0.
Elise Campbell was jogging along the beach and immediately swam out to the girls who were about 50m from the shore.
“The pair were caught in a large rip with large waves rolling in consistent sets,” the report stated.
Adam Marriott also ran into the water to try and save the girls and was able to bring Cienna’s friend back to shore.
In the report, Life Saving Victoria aquatic capability general manager Andy Dennis stated there had been five serious incidents, both drownings and near drownings, along the Ocean Grove coastline in the past eight years.
Mr Dennis assessed the signage at the beach and found it was in poor condition, did not state the need for parents or guardians to actively supervise their children and that additional signage would be beneficial.
The report notes NSW has a water safety document which provides guidelines to local councils and coastal management committees.
“In Victoria, there is no documented acceptance of water safety responsibility which results in councils and land managers being unclear on whose responsibility it is to mitigate risks,” it read.
Mr Dennis stated a similar document introduced in Victoria could be a “game-changer” as “it would address a key gap, where there are no prescribed water safety minimum standards for local government under existing legislation.”
But, Mr McGregor said he did not believe inadequate signage led to Cienna’s death.
“Cienna’s death was the tragic result of misadventure in the context of treacherous ocean conditions,” he said.
“I am satisfied that Cienna and her family, as local residents, were aware of the risks of swimming at the beach.
Mr McGregor recommended Emergency Management Victoria (EMV) consider developing this new document, similar to one in NSW.
An EMV spokesman said it was aware of the recommendation and would consider it.
“(We) extend our sincere condolences to everyone involved in this tragic incident.”
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Originally published as Ocean Grove drowning: Coroner calls for new water safety guidelines
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