April 1 - 30, 2025: Issue 641

 

Tragic Easter Long Weekend on NSW Coastline As flags come down for 2024-2025 Patrol Season

“Terrible and traumatic,” is how the Surf Life Saving New South Wales chief, Steven Pearce, summed up what has been declared the deadliest Easter long weekend on record, well before it was even over.

Seven people across NSW and Victoria were confirmed to have drowned by the morning of Easter Monday, and while heavy seas had returned to largely normal levels, crews were still searching for two people missing since Good Friday.

The preliminary coastal drowning toll since 1 July 2024 has now risen to 45.

The first came over night on Thursday 17 April at around 11pm when a man in Wollongong Harbour was washed off the break wall. 

The second came early on Friday morning, April 18, where a man was washed off the rocks at Middle Head Point in Mosman, just around the headland from Manly beach.

Then late on Friday afternoon a young male was extricated from the water face down at Disaster Bay in Eden on the state's Far South Coast having been washed off the rocks at the location.

On the Saturday two people rock fishing at Tathra, on the NSW south coast, were swept into the ocean. One returned conscious and breathing. The other was later found dead.

On Sunday morning, another two rock fishers braved conditions, this time at Wattamolla, just south of Sydney. They were swept off rocks, with the Westpac helicopter called in to save them. They were both retrieved, with one pronounced dead at the scene.

Later that day, a nine-year-old boy became trapped between rocks at South West Rocks' Main Beach. Distraught witnesses spoke of how his parents, trapped from the chest, were unable to free him. NSW Police, fire crews and surf lifesavers also tried to free the nine-year-old but he died at the scene on Sunday through drowning.

The loss of this little boy brought the death toll to six in NSW over the Easter long weekend.

Rescue helicopters had performed 30 missions by Monday morning.

By Monday afternoon, once swells had returned to near normal levels, Victorian authorities called off the search for a missing 41-year-old Chinese national.

His death brought the long weekend toll to eight, as searches continued for a swimmer missing off Sydney’s Little Bay beach.

"Every drowning is a tragedy, and this is an absolutely tragic start to the Easter long weekend," SLSNSW CEO, Steve Pearce said.

"I want to take this opportunity to remind the public that watching big surf from precarious locations like rock platforms and coastal walkways can be just as dangerous as being in the ocean.

"Please take the time to assess the conditions and don't put yourself at risk of being washed in."

By Tuesday April 22, in tough conditions with big surf, hot temperatures, and packed beaches, SLS NSW Volunteer Patrol Members had conducted:

  • Over 160 significant rescues 
  • More than 300 people treated with first aid 
  • Around 30,000 preventative actions

Patrol Flags come down Today

The Surf Life Saving patrol season in NSW ends today, Sunday April 27th, 2025. This marks the end of the season for volunteer lifesavers patrolling beaches in the state.

The 2024-2025 Surf Life Saving NSW patrol season, which began on September 28, 2024, has seen 21,000 lifesavers active on NSW beaches. 

In the period from July 2024 to April 2025, Surf Life Saving NSW recorded a total of 46 coastal drowning deaths in NSW, with 6 deaths occurring over the Easter period alone. This includes a 9-year-old boy who drowned after being swept off rock shelves. The total number of coastal drownings across the whole state for this period was 61.

During the whole Patrol Season, NSW volunteer lifesavers and ALS lifeguards have completed more than 4,600 rescues, made over 1 million preventative actions on our beaches, and delivered around 20,000 first aids – a monumental effort, with figures likely to increase as surf clubs complete the final logs of their season.

Surf Life Saving Australia released its Summer Coastal Drowning Report on March 1 2025, which showed there were sadly 104 drowning deaths nationally across the summer season, up 5% from last summer and 14% on the 5-year average, with almost half occurring along the coastline. 

The Surf Life Saving Australia Summer Coastal Drowning Report 2024-25, to February 28 2025, states 51 lives were tragically lost across the Australian coastline, each one with long lasting impacts to family and friends. Males, unpatrolled beaches, and rip currents were again highlighted as dominant risk factors.  

This number, however, would have been far greater if not for the incredible efforts of Surf Life Saving services across Australia, who have performed more than 1.31 million preventative actions and 5,500 rescues over the summer months. 

More than 29,000 people also completed Surf Life Saving Australia’s Beach Passport, a virtual water safety course that provides practical tips on how to keep safe when visiting the coastline. 

BEACH SAFETY TIPS

Always swim between the red and yellow patrol flags, for your nearest patrolled beach check the BeachSafe app or website

Read the safety signs for information about the beach and ask a lifesaver or lifeguard for safety information

Always swim with someone else so you can look out for each other, and always supervise children around the water

Never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs

If you need help in the water, stay calm and attract attention by raising one arm

In an emergency, dial Triple Zero

For information about patrol times, weather, and beach locations visit the Beachsafe Website or Download the App.