3 hours ago
1
A woman has been found dead after being swept out into the ocean from a Sydney beach in the early hours of New Year’s Day, as authorities issue a warning about dangerous surf conditions on the NSW coast.
Later in the morning another swimmer went missing in the water at Coogee.
Emergency services were called to Maroubra Beach in Sydney about 4am on Thursday after reports a person had been swept out into the ocean.
The 25-year-old woman was hit by a wave, knocking her into a tidal rock pool before further waves swept her out to sea, NSW police were told.
Sign up: AU Breaking News email
Police, including the air wing, and NSW Ambulance began a search and found the body of a woman at about 5am.
Police said on Thursday morning that while formal identification was yet to be completed, the body was believed to be that of the missing woman.
At Coogee, a search was under way on Thursday morning for another swimmer believed to be missing in the water.
Just after 6am on Thursday emergency services were called to Coogee Beach after reports a man – believed to be aged in his 20s – was in trouble in the water.
Surf Lifesaving Australia NSW’s duty officer Ben Heenan said four people had decided to go for a morning swim at the beach.
“Due to large surf, they were swept out in a very big rip, swept off their feet,” Heenan said. “They tried to make their way back to shore and required assistance. An off-duty police officer and two off-duty surf lifesavers went in and provided that assistance.
“Three of them were able to make it back to shore. Unfortunately, one was unable to return. We immediately commenced a search.”
Police, ambulance, surf lifesaving and council officers have joined the search.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a hazardous surf warning for much of the NSW coast, stretching from Byron to the Illawarra.
Surf and swell conditions were expected to be hazardous on Thursday for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming, the BoM said.
The police marine area command said people should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas.
“Rock fishers should avoid coastal rock platforms exposed to the ocean and seek a safe location that is sheltered from the surf,” a warning note said.
“Boaters planning to cross shallow water and ocean bars should consider changing or delaying their voyage. Boaters already on the water should carry the appropriate safety equipment and wear a lifejacket.”
On the NSW Central Coast, the Westpac rescue helicopter was sent to Avoca beach to retrieve a middle-aged man who was pulled unconscious from the water at 6.45pm on New Year’s Eve.
He was treated at the scene by a paramedic and a doctor from the helicopter’s critical care medical team before being transported to Royal North Shore Hospital in a serious condition.
The incidents follow the death of a man in Sydney on New Year’s Eve after a dinghy capsized at Palm Beach.
Two men and a 14-year-old boy were in the vessel when it overturned in rough conditions around Barrenjoey Headland about 11.35am.
A man was pulled from the water by surf lifesavers and treated by paramedics, but he died at the scene.
A second man was able to climb onto nearby rocks before he was winched to safety by a rescue helicopter and taken to hospital.
A search for the missing boy was expected to continue on New Year’s Day.
Surf Lifesaving NSW chief executive Steven Pearce said the past 24 hours had been “a very horrific period in terms of drownings” for NSW.
“That’s on top of multiple mass rescues that were conducted yesterday by lifesavers and lifeguards right up the NSW coast,” Pearce told 2GB radio on Thursday morning.
“I would be very surprised if there was a beach open in Sydney today because of the swell conditions. We would just ask people to abide by the directions of the lifeguards that are on duty today and the lifesavers. They are hazardous conditions today.”
