Nine-year-old boy dies at fashionable Australian vacation spot amid spate of drownings over lengthy Easter weekend | EUROtoday

A nine-year-old boy died after getting trapped between rocks in New South Wales as harmful surf situations battered Australia’s japanese shoreline over the Easter weekend, resulting in no less than seven deaths.

Emergency companies had been known as to South West Rocks on Sunday afternoon however regardless of efforts by police and Surf Life Saving crews, the boy couldn’t be saved and died on the scene.

“It’s extremely tragic, it’s the worst drownings we’ve seen on the Easter long weekend,” mentioned Surf Life Saving NSW chief govt Steven Pearce, including that volunteer lifesavers and lifeguards had carried out greater than 150 rescues since Good Friday.

The collection of drownings has coincided with highly effective surf generated by Cyclone Tam, which triggered hazardous situations alongside the coasts of New South Wales and Victoria. The Australian climate bureau had warned of enormous waves and robust winds from Thursday by way of the weekend, with harmful situations anticipated to proceed into Monday in some areas.

Among the incidents nonetheless underneath investigation are the circumstances of two lacking males, one a 24-year-old swept off rocks by a wave at Little Bay in Sydney’s japanese suburbs on Friday, and one other, a 41-year-old man who disappeared close to San Remo in Victoria. The latter was a part of a bunch of Chinese nationals from Pakenham as three members of the group had been knocked into the ocean by a wave. One lady was rescued, however the man’s spouse drowned on the scene.

In one other incident on Friday morning, a 58-year-old fisherman died after being swept into the water at Wollongong Harbour. On the identical day, a person drowned at Mosman, on Sydney’s north shore, whereas one other fisher was reported useless close to Green Cape, on the NSW south coast.

On Sunday, rescue crews had been known as to Wattamolla in Sydney’s Royal National Park, the place two males had been swept off rocks whereas fishing. They had been winched from the water, however one couldn’t be revived and was declared useless on the scene.

Authorities have urged warning throughout the the rest of the lengthy weekend, with police and security organisations warning that rock fishing, swimming, and coastal sightseeing stay extraordinarily hazardous.

“Large and powerful surf conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as crossing bars by boat and rock fishing,” NSW Police mentioned on X. “If in doubt, don’t go.”

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Prime minister Anthony Albanese, talking from Batemans Bay on Monday, supplied condolences to the households affected. “Australians love the water, we love the surf. Please, everyone, be careful. Families in particular, be careful of your kids.”

Royal Life Saving Australia CEO Justin Carr mentioned the tragic toll had occurred throughout excessive climate when many individuals had been participating in dangerous actions, similar to venturing onto rocky cabinets or standing too near the sting to {photograph} massive swells.

On common, six individuals drown over the Easter lengthy weekend annually, in keeping with Royal Life Saving information.