The Easter weekend in Australia has turned tragic as a nine-year-old boy becomes the seventh drowning victim, leading to renewed warnings from surf safety authorities.
Tragic Easter: Drowning Death Toll Reaches Seven in Australia
Tragic Easter: Drowning Death Toll Reaches Seven in Australia
A nine-year-old boy's drowning adds to the alarming Easter weekend toll, with authorities warning of unsafe ocean conditions.
A nine-year-old boy tragically drowned after he became trapped between rocks at a beach in New South Wales on Sunday, marking the seventh drowning incident during the height of the Easter weekend. The majority of these fatalities resulted from powerful ocean swells that swept individuals from rocks into the water. According to officials, two additional individuals are still missing amidst the alarming rise in drowning incidents.
Steven Pearce, the CEO of Surf Live Saving New South Wales, described this weekend as the "worst" on record for drownings during the Easter holidays. "It has just been horrendous on a weekend that's supposed to be joyous and religious," Pearce told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Emergency responders managed to retrieve the young boy from South West Rocks, located about 400 kilometers north of Sydney, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. Earlier that same day, rescuers were alerted to a father and son seen floating near Wattamolla Beach, south of Sydney. While the 14-year-old was successfully resuscitated, his father was later declared dead.
Continuing the search efforts, Victorian police are looking for a 41-year-old man who vanished near San Remo on Friday, further compounding the tragedy of the weekend. Surf Live Saving New South Wales reported conducting over 150 rescues since Good Friday, underscoring the perilous conditions.
Pearce attributed the tragic events to a "perfect combination" of high temperatures, the holiday atmosphere, and hazardous ocean swells engulfing the New South Wales and Victoria coastlines. Although conditions are expected to improve by Monday, authorities are urging beachgoers to prioritize safety.
In a heartfelt message, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese extended condolences to the grieving families, advising everyone to exercise caution, particularly with children around water. Statistics provided by Royal Life Saving Australia reveal that there were 323 drowning fatalities across the nation in the year leading up to June 2024, with New South Wales accounting for nearly 40% of these incidents.
