Tragic Easter weekend: seven drown in New South Wales as conditions worsen

During a tragic Easter weekend in Australia, the New South Wales coastal region experienced a significant surge in drownings, marking one of the deadliest holiday weekends on record. The majority of the fatalities were attributed to hazardous ocean conditions, specifically strong swells that led to individuals being swept from rocks into the ocean. Among the victims was a nine-year-old boy who got trapped between rocks at South West Rocks. Emergency teams managed to retrieve him; however, he was pronounced dead at the scene, adding to the growing toll of drownings during the holiday. In addition to the tragic case of the boy, a father and son were involved in a distressing incident near Wattamolla Beach. While the son, aged 14, was successfully resuscitated after being spotted floating in the water by a helicopter, the father was tragically declared dead. These incidents highlight the dangers faced by beachgoers in New South Wales amid dangerous conditions. Authorities indicated that over 150 rescues had been conducted by Surf Live Saving New South Wales since the onset of the Easter weekend, emphasizing the need for caution when visiting the coastline. Steven Pearce, CEO of Surf Live Saving, remarked on the unfortunate combination of high temperatures, the holiday weekend, and particularly dangerous ocean swells as factors contributing to the spike in drownings. As emergency teams continued searching for missing persons, including a 41-year-old man near San Remo, calls for beach safety increased. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed condolences to the affected families, urging that safety must be prioritized, especially for children during such perilous conditions. The Royal Life Saving Australia reported a total of 323 drownings nationwide over the preceding year, indicating that the issue extends beyond the current holiday, with New South Wales accounting for nearly 40% of these fatalities.