As severe weather conditions unleashed towering swells on Sydney and surrounding areas, the New South Wales police confirmed that individuals were either swept away or fell into the ocean during the perilous conditions of the holiday weekend. This catastrophe began with a low-pressure system that initiated hazardous surf conditions on Friday, causing waves to surpass 24 feet off Brisbane's coastline.
Meteorologists had previously warned beachgoers of potential dangers along the coast from Queensland to New South Wales, including famously visited spots like Sydney, Byron Bay, and the Gold Coast. The surf advisory cautioned against activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming due to the extreme conditions expected.
By the time these warnings were lifted on Sunday, the death toll included five individuals in New South Wales and one in Victoria. Among the reported fatalities was a man who tragically died while fishing at Wattamolla, south of Sydney, as he was swept into the sea; he was accompanied by a 14-year-old boy, who was fortunately rescued and is now in stable condition in the hospital. This marked the fifth drowning incident in New South Wales during the three-day span, with all victims believed to have been engaged in fishing or walking on coastal rock formations.
Additional reports indicated a missing person, who vanished after being swept away while walking with friends at Little Bay Beach on Friday. In the state of Victoria, another tragedy unfolded when a woman lost her life after being washed off rocks in the town of San Remo that same morning. While a man and woman were also caught in the surf, the woman managed to return to shore, but the man remains unaccounted for.
The events of this holiday weekend highlight the ongoing water safety concerns, as statistics reveal that 128 individuals drowned in New South Wales in 2024, with approximately half of these incidents occurring along coastal areas.
Yan Zhuang, a reporter for the Times based in Seoul, continues to report on these urgent events.
Meteorologists had previously warned beachgoers of potential dangers along the coast from Queensland to New South Wales, including famously visited spots like Sydney, Byron Bay, and the Gold Coast. The surf advisory cautioned against activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming due to the extreme conditions expected.
By the time these warnings were lifted on Sunday, the death toll included five individuals in New South Wales and one in Victoria. Among the reported fatalities was a man who tragically died while fishing at Wattamolla, south of Sydney, as he was swept into the sea; he was accompanied by a 14-year-old boy, who was fortunately rescued and is now in stable condition in the hospital. This marked the fifth drowning incident in New South Wales during the three-day span, with all victims believed to have been engaged in fishing or walking on coastal rock formations.
Additional reports indicated a missing person, who vanished after being swept away while walking with friends at Little Bay Beach on Friday. In the state of Victoria, another tragedy unfolded when a woman lost her life after being washed off rocks in the town of San Remo that same morning. While a man and woman were also caught in the surf, the woman managed to return to shore, but the man remains unaccounted for.
The events of this holiday weekend highlight the ongoing water safety concerns, as statistics reveal that 128 individuals drowned in New South Wales in 2024, with approximately half of these incidents occurring along coastal areas.
Yan Zhuang, a reporter for the Times based in Seoul, continues to report on these urgent events.