A perfect storm of warmer-than-usual temperatures and powerful swells has resulted in record drownings over the Easter long weekend in one state.
Seven people are confirmed dead, including six in NSW and one in Victoria, with the search for two others missing since Good Friday continuing on Easter Monday.
In the latest tragedy, a nine-year-old boy died after becoming trapped between rocks at a popular holiday spot on the NSW mid-north coast.
Police and other emergency services tried to free the boy from the site at South West Rocks on Sunday afternoon, but he died at the scene.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said crews had also taken part in countless rescues as hordes of holiday-makers made their way to the beach.
“It’s extremely tragic, its the worse drownings we’ve seen on the Easter long weekend,” he told ABC Radio on Monday.
Unseasonally warm conditions fuelled large crowds at many beaches waterways over the holiday period.
Meanwhile, rescue crews in NSW and Victoria have resumed their search for two men missing since Friday.
The men, a 24-year-old man who was swept off the rocks by a large wave at Little Bay in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and a 41-year-old man exploring the beach near San Remo in Victoria, haven’t been spotted after the incidents.
The older man was with a group of fellow Chinese nationals living in Pakenham when three of the friends were knocked into the water by a wave.
One woman was rescued, but the missing man’s wife drowned.
Victoria Police said the search was continuing on Monday.
Emergency services were also called to Wattamolla in Sydney’s Royal National Park at 11am on Sunday following reports that two people were swept off the rocks while fishing.
Two men were found floating face down in the water and were winched to safety, but one was unable to be revived and died at the scene.
A 58-year-old fisherman also died after being swept into water at Wollongong Harbour on Friday morning.
Another man drowned at Mosman on Sydney’s north shore on Friday morning.
Crews were also called to Green Cape near Eden on the NSW south coast about 3pm on Friday following reports of a fisherman being swept off rocks into the water.
Authorities later found a body in the water.
Australians have been urged to take care on the water during the remainder of the long weekend.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said his thoughts were with those who had lost loved-ones.
“Australians love the water, we love the surf,” he said from the southern NSW coastal town of Bateman’s Bay.
“Please, everyone, be careful. Families in particular, to be careful of your kids.”
Royal Life Saving Australia chief executive Justin Carr said the tragic events happened in extreme weather conditions when people had often put themselves in danger.
Those activities included walking along rocky shelves, getting too close to the water to take pictures of the storm swell and rock fishing when it wasn’t safe to do so.
An average of six people have drowned each Easter long weekend over the past 20 years, according to the organisation.
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