A 59-year-old man has tragically drowned after being caught in a dangerous rip current at a popular Mid North Coast beach, police have confirmed.
Tragedy at Crescent Head
The incident occurred around 3:20 pm on November 28 at a beach off Point Polmer Road in Crescent Head. Emergency services were called to the scene after reports a swimmer was in trouble.
According to police, the man was pulled into the rip by the strong current. Bystanders witnessing the emergency immediately rushed into the water to assist him.
They managed to pull the man from the surf and began rendering first aid on the sand. Paramedics arrived shortly after and continued emergency treatment, but despite these efforts, the man could not be revived and was declared deceased at the scene.
A National Safety Crisis
This heartbreaking incident highlights a broader and alarming trend on Australian coastlines. The national Surf Life Saving annual report, released in October, revealed that 154 people drowned on Australian coastlines in the past year.
This sobering figure represents a record number of coastal drowning deaths and accounts for a staggering 43 per cent of all drowning deaths in the reporting period.
Jaz Lawes, the national Surf Life Saving research manager, stated at the time of the report's release, "Every life lost on our coastline is tragic, and last year we were alarmed to record our highest ever number of drowning deaths."
Preventative Actions and Coronial Investigation
Despite the grim statistics, the report also highlighted the vital work of surf lifesavers. In the same period, they performed more than two million preventative actions and successfully rescued more than 8200 people from dangerous situations in coastal waters.
Meanwhile, Mid North Coast police have commenced their inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the Crescent Head drowning. A report is now being prepared for the coroner as part of the standard investigative process following a sudden death.
