A nine-year-old boy who got trapped between stones at a New South Wales shore on Sunday has become the sixth man to kill in Australia over the Easter trip.
The majority of deaths were caused by solid swells washing persons into the sea from stones. Two persons remain missing.
Steven Pearce, the CEO of Surf Live Saving in New South Wales, where most of the casualties occurred, told the ABC it was the “worst” deluge of incidents on history for the Easter longer trip.
” It has just been horrible on a trip that’s supposed to be happy and catholic,” Pearce told the Sydney Morning Herald.
Emergency team were able to get the child at South West Rocks, about 400 kilometres northeast of Sydney, but he died at the scene.
Earlier on Sunday, a plane spotted a father and son floating in the water near Wattamolla Beach, north of Sydney. The 14-year-old boy was resuscitated, but the father was later pronounced dead.
However, Police in Victoria are continuing to search for a 41-year-old man who went missing near San Remo on Friday.
Surf Live Saving New South Wales said it has carried out more than 150 befriends since Good Friday.
Mr Pearce said a “perfect blend” of high temperature, the holiday weekends, and dangerous seas swells across much of New South Wales and Victoria caused the rise in deaths.
Although parameters are set to increase on Monday, officials urged those visiting the beach to workout caution.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese expressed sympathy to the victims ‘ families. ” Delight, people, be cautious. People in particular, become mindful of your children,” he said.
According to Royal Life Saving Australia, 323 persons drowned across the country in the year to June 2024.
That figure includes those who died in rivers and creeks, as well as shores. Almost 40 % of the deaths were recorded in New South Wales.