NSW Drowning Deaths Surge To Four Since Christmas As Lifesavers Issue Urgent Holiday Warning

Another drowning incident in New South Wales has added to the growing toll of water-related fatalities during the festive season. 

The latest casualty occurred at Port Stephens on Wednesday afternoon, where four individuals were pulled from the water. 

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Tragically, a 33-year-old man could not be revived and succumbed to the incident at the scene.

Emergency services treated a woman and a man at the scene before transporting them to John Hunter Hospital in critical condition. 

A third man, also rescued, did not require further medical attention. 

Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

This event brings the total number of drownings in NSW since Christmas to at least four, with concerns for a man swept out to sea while attempting to rescue his brother from dangerous waters on the south coast just one day before.

The 19-year-old, who entered the water to aid his brother near Moruya’s Congo beach, is now the focus of an extensive land, sea, and air search.

Simultaneously on Tuesday, the lifeless body of a 35-year-old paddleboarder was retrieved from the newly opened Penrith beach.

With the holiday season underway, Australians are being reminded of the elevated risks associated with water activities. 

The period between Christmas and New Year’s is historically the deadliest, witnessing a surge in drownings as people flock to beaches and waterways.

Since the beginning of December, at least 22 drowning incidents have occurred across Australia this year, surpassing the 19 recorded at the same time last year. 

The five-year average for this period is 25 fatalities. The three days from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day alone saw nine drownings, all in NSW and Queensland.

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