Tributes for Pakenham teenager Nick Maan after Boxing Day drowning

A Pakenham teenager and rising footy star is being remembered as “one of the best friends anyone could ask for” after drowning at Mordialloc beach.

Pakenham teenager Nick Maan drowned at Mordialloc Beach on Boxing Day.

Tributes are flowing for a Pakenham teenager who drowned at Mordialloc beach on Monday.

Nick Maan, 17, who attended Lakeside College and played football for Pakenham Lions Junior Football Club, was pulled from the water unresponsive and died at the scene.

He was swimming with friends and was reported missing about 4pm on Boxing Day.

Emergency rescue helicopters searched the area for 45 minutes before finding his body.

The teen’s death came on a tragic day in the water, with a man in his 30s also dying after a “medical episode” in the water, at Kookaburra Point in Ebden.

It is believed the man went into the water to chase his dog near Boathaven Rd and began to struggle about 3pm on Monday.

He was taken to Albury Base Hospital, where he later died.

Nick Maan pictured with friend Darci, who paid tribute to him on social media.

At least three others were in hospital in a serious condition after being pulled from the water on Boxing Day, and by Tuesday afternoon a further four people needed rescuing from beaches across the state.

The Herald Sun has been told Nick was heavily involved in a number of sporting and community groups and aspired to play in the AFL.

In a moving tribute on Facebook, his friend Darci wrote: “Today myself and many others lost one of the best friends anyone could ask for.”

“Nick sadly lost his life today at Mordialloc beach. He was definitely one of a kind and always knew how to make anyone laugh and smile no matter what,” she said.

“He was dearly loved by so many he came across and has clearly touched so many hearts. “All the fun times in and out of primary school all the way to high school are now memories but they are memories I’ll cherish forever.

Nick Maan played football for Pakenham Lions and dreamt of playing AFL.

“Rest In peace Nick you will be missed by absolutely everyone.”

In a post on Lakeside College’s Facebook page, principal Tom Brennen said the school community was “devastated” by Nick’s death and offered its “thoughts and prayers” to his family.

“Last night, the college learned about the accidental drowning of one of our 2023 Year 12 students, Nick Maan,” Mr Brennen said.

“Nick joined Lakeside College in 2018 as a year 7 student and will be remembered for his bright smile, intelligence, wonderful sense of humour and of course, his sporting prowess.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Nick’s family, friends and College staff who are all devastated by this very sad news.

“We particularly ask the community to keep Nick’s family in their prayers at this time.”

Another close friend, Ethan said he had lost his “best mate” and “soulmate”.

“Nick was the most amazing, kind-hearted, devoted and determined young man I have ever met,” he wrote on social media.

“Nick always saw the best in people and always had the most genuine and caring heart towards others.

“His smile could make the most unhappy person in the world get instantly filled with joy and his laugh was more contagious than Covid.”

Ethan said Nick took his footy seriously.

“Over the past couple of years we used to train at paky ovals together nearly everyday, he always looked for the best in me and pushed me to my limits.

“This year, especially these last few months Nick has really gotten somewhere and improved tremendously with his footy and even got asked to train for Gippsland Power. I couldn’t tell you how proud I was for his achievements.”

Police and paramedics were called to Mordialloc Beach before 4pm. Picture: Nine News

The two Boxing Day drownings come after a 19-year-old St Albans man drowned at Cumberland River Beach, near Lorne on Christmas Day.

Volunteers tried to revive the man for more than an hour while waiting for help to arrive, but he died at the scene.

He had been swimming with two mates aged 18 and 20 who were also caught in the rip and were both taken to hospital.

Life Saving Victoria state agency commander Kane Treloar said rescues and non-fatal drownings could still have lasting effects on people and their loved ones.

“Non-fatal drownings are not to be discounted,” Treloar said.

“These are instances where people are going to go to hospital and their lives can be changed forever,” he said.

“It’s understandable why people want to be down at the beach. We’re asking people to think about their safety because we want to make sure everyone’s coming home at the end of the day.”

“Wherever you are across the state over the next couple of days, we want you to go and find our lifesavers and find our lifeguards because we don’t want them to be the ones that come with you.”

Authorities expressed alarm at the number of water deaths and near drownings occurring in recent days.

They are bracing for more incidents with temperatures soaring again on Tuesday and people flocking to the water.

Melbourne is set to swelter through its hottest day of the year on Tuesday with a high of 37C forecast, while parts of regional Victoria are expected to top 40C, including Warracknabeal (41C), Mildura (40.4C), Shepparton (40C) and Horsham (40C).

Bureau of Meteorology senior forecaster Hannah Marsh said Melbourne was likely to overtake its previous record temperature for this year from January 1, when the temperature hit 37.1C.

“It will be another hot day … it’s looking like it will be the hottest day since New Year’s Day,” Ms Marsh said.

A teen died and his friend is fighting for life after a Christmas drowning at Lorne. Picture: Mark Wilson

On Boxing Day, metropolitan Melbourne reached a top of 36.1C at Coldstream, while Warracknabeal recorded the highest temperature in the state of 40.4C.

With the mercury riding high, Life Saving Victoria is urging people to go online and check which beaches are safe and manned by lifeguards, but sadly are expecting there will be more incidents.

In early December, it was revealed drownings in the past 12 months were higher than the average of the past two decades.

LSV research and evaluation manager Dr Hannah Calverley said at the time that 2022 was the second year in a row the numbers had “bucked” an otherwise downward trend, and urged people to be careful.

“We’re urging Victorians to be vigilant around water to help put an end to drownings and prevent further tragedy,” she said.

In the Life Saving Victoria 2021-2022 drowning report, the Mornington Peninsula came in at number one for fatal drownings.

This was followed by the Bass Coast, where most drownings occurred at beaches.

Most fatal drownings on the Bass Coast occurred when people were swimming, wading or paddling.

Looking at the longer-term weather forecast, there is cooler weather to follow the latest spike in temperatures.

On New Year’s Eve the city is likely to drop to the high 20s, meaning revellers will be more likely to be rugging up than taking a dip.

The forecast will be welcome news for Victorians heading into the third and final day of a “severe, low-intensity” heatwave on Tuesday.

Originally published as Tributes for Pakenham teenager Nick Maan after Boxing Day drowning