By Claire Ottaviano and Jesinta Burton
A teenager who drowned at Lake Leschenaultia in the Perth Hills on Tuesday has been named as 17-year-old Tyler Jury.
He is one of six to drown in Western Australia in less than three weeks, adding to the state’s horror at the tragedy.
Tyler’s sister Maddison took to social media on Wednesday afternoon to express her grief, describing her family as “broken”.
“Thank you for all the messages it’s just so hard loosing [sic] a family member,” she said.
“I am just so broken. I love you so much Tyler.
“I’ve gone physically numb, forever 17.”
A bouquet of roses has been placed at the entrance to popular Perth Hills swimming destination Lake Leschenaultia in solemn tribute to a teenager who drowned at the site on Tuesday.Credit: Nine News Perth/Rhys Rigby
Tyler was swimming in the lake in Chidlow when it is believed he became trapped under the lake’s pontoon at about 2pm.
His twin brother raised the alarm with desperate attempts from up to 30 swimmers and locals with scuba gear to rescue him.
St John Ambulance crews, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and SES were sent to the scene 46 kilometres east of Perth under priority one code.
Police divers found Tyler’s body about 45 minutes after the alarm was raised. He was given emergency first aid, but could not be revived. The lake remained closed on Wednesday.
Just 30 minutes after emergency services were called to Lake Leschenaultia, paramedics rushed to help a man pulled from the water in the coastal town of Bremer Bay.
Police said the man, in his 40s, was among a group of four people who entered the water at Native Dog Beach to help two children who were struggling, before finding themselves in trouble.
He was taken by ambulance to the Bremer Bay Nursing Post, but could not be revived.
A police spokesperson said the others in the water made it back to shore safely.
On Wednesday, Premier Roger Cook praised the heroic efforts of community members who tried to save both victims.
“These are horrible, horrible accidents and our hearts go out to all involved,” he said.
“I just want to extend my thanks and appreciation to members of the local community who worked tirelessly to try to rescue that young man until emergency services arrived. That was a heroic effort by a number of members of the community, and we really appreciate their efforts.”
As the busy summer school holiday period continues, Cook urged holidaymakers to be aware around water.
“It’s summer, everyone loves to play, recreate in our great water playgrounds,” he said.
“Make sure you look out for each other, make sure you look out for yourself, particularly if you’re swimming on our coastline.
“It’s an amazing coastline, one of the best in the world, but it’s also treacherous, and you need to make sure you take care.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Mundaring Shire president Paige McNeil said it was an “unimaginably difficult” time.
“All of us at Shire of Mundaring share the sadness at the loss of the teenager who drowned at Lake
Leschenaultia,” she said.
The family of Sio Afamasaga have appealed to the public to help fly his body home to Samoa.Credit: Pita Sio Afamasaga/GoFundMe
“We also offer our gratitude to the many people who assisted during the emergency and who displayed extraordinary bravery in their rescue efforts.”
A shire spokesperson said the local government would continue to work with the state coroner as investigations continued.
The two deaths come just four days after 22-year-old Sio Afamasaga drowned at City Beach on January 10.
His sister Pita launched a GoFundMe to raise money to help send his body home to Samoa.
“My parents and family aspire to send his body back home, so we can pay our last respects, especially my parents who are struggling to cope with the news,” she said.
The incidents come soon after 40-year-old Olya Tikhanova drowned after being swept off rocks near Esperance, and two weeks after husband and wife — Dr Mohammad Shahidul Hasan Swapan and Sabrina Ahmed — died trying to save their daughter at Conspicuous Cliff beach near Walpole.
On January 1, 2017, a 24-year-old man also died at Lake Leschenaultia after reportedly having a seizure in the water in front of horrified swimmers.
In September 2024, the Shire of Mundaring announced upgrades at the lake which included a designated swimming-only area with commercial buoys to protect swimmers from watercraft.
About 80,000 people visit the lake each year.
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