A woman has drowned on New South Wales‘ Mid North Coast amid ongoing hazardous surf conditions for January 1 that have now claimed four lives.
Emergency services rushed to Dunbogan Beach, 38km south of Port Macquarie, about 2.55pm on Thursday following reports of a woman in distress.
Officers arrived at the scene and found a 45-year-old woman had been pulled from the water and was unconscious.
NSW Ambulance paramedics and police attempted CPR but the woman sadly could not be revived. Police will investigate the circumstances around her death and prepare a report for the coroner.
The woman’s death follows those of an Irish tourist at Whitehaven Beach in Queensland, a man at Coogee and a young woman at Maroubra Beach.
The wild weather is being caused by a low pressure system in the Tasman Sea, to the northwest of New Zealand, which is whipping up winds and causing large swells to reach Australia’s east coast.
The string of tragedies kicked off at 4am on Thursday when emergency services received reports of a woman being swept out the sea from Maroubra Beach, in Sydney’s southeast.
It’s understood the 25-year-old Chinese tourist was swimming in a tidal rock pool when she was knocked over by a strong wave.
A 45-year-old woman drowned at Dunbogan Beach (pictured) on Thursday afternoon
Four lives were lost to drowning on New Year’s Day due to dangerous surf conditions
The hazardous conditions are being caused by a rapidly deepening low pressure system (pictured)
A body, believed to be that of the missing woman, was recovered an hour later following an extensive search.
Emergency services received another distressing call just two hours later from nearby Coogee Beach.
A swimmer, believed to be aged in his 20s, was in a group of three when he began struggling.
He disappeared into the surf at about 6am, shortly after officers arrived at the scene.
‘Due to the large surf, they were swept out in a very big rip and got swept off their feet. They tried to make their way back to shore and required assistance,’ Coogee Lifesaving Club president Ben Heenan said.
‘An off-duty police officer and two off-duty surf lifesavers went in and provided that assistance.’
Police were forced to temporarily suspend their search for the man due to poor weather conditions.
An Irish tourist in north Queensland was found drowned a few hours later at 11am AEST.
The deceased included a 45-year-old woman, a Chinese tourist, an Irish tourist and a 25-year-old man (pictured, officers at the scene in Coogee)
Queensland Police received reports of a body in the water. The 25-year-old man was declared dead a short time after being brought to shore.
Authorities urged eastern Aussies to stay away from beaches on Thursday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a hazardous surf warning for the eastern Australian coastline, advising swimmers to keep out of the water and avoid surf-exposed areas.
‘People should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas,’ the bureau said.
Rock fishers are being told to seek safer platforms, while boaties are warned against crossing shallow bars due to the ongoing risk.
Northern Beaches surf life saving coordinator Steve Downman said Sydney beaches were being pounded by ‘walls of white water’ and powerful waves.
‘Heading to the beach today is definitely not a good idea, most beaches will be closed,’ he told ABC Sydney Radio.
‘We’re expecting waves up to two and a half to three metres, extremely large and dangerous.’
