Irish tourist drowns at Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays on New Year’s Eve
An Irish tourist died after nearly drowning in the Whitsundays.
Police received reports that a dead body was found at Whitehaven Beach off the Queensland coast around 11am on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old man was brought to shore and pronounced dead a short time later.
Police said: “As the matter is before the Coroner it would be inappropriate to comment further.” 7News in a statement.
The man’s death was the latest in a series of New Year’s events on the east coast.
A NSW man has died after his boat capsized in a strong wave near Barrenjoey Point at Palm Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches.
The search for a 14-year-old boy who was on the boat resumed on Thursday.
Another man on board was found clinging to a rock platform about 25 meters from the overturned boat and suffered severe injuries to his left leg.
Police received reports of a dead body being found at Whitehaven Beach, off the Queenslandcoast, at around 11am on Wednesday (beach pictured)
It comes after one death occurred after his boat capsized in a strong wave near Barrenjoey Point at Palm Beach on Sydney’s northern beaches (pictured)
A helicopter is seen searching for a missing man on Coogee Beach
Wild weather hinders search for missing man in Coogee
Coogee residents are seen after a man went missing in the surf around 6am on Thursday morning
He was taken to safety by a rescue helicopter and lowered into a clearing near the shore car park for emergency treatment.
The search continues for a missing swimmer who went into the water at Coogee Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs around 6am on Thursday morning.
Emergency crews received a report that the man, believed to be in his 20s, was in trouble in the water.
A police officer was seen charging into the waves with a flotation device in hand to help other swimmers keep the man above water.
However, the group failed to bring the man to shore.
Paramedics were seen treating onlookers for shock, and men and women were seen embracing on the shoreline.
The drama unfolded just two hours after the tragedy occurred on Maroubra Beach, less than three kilometers away.
At around 4 a.m., a 25-year-old woman was swept out to sea after a powerful wave knocked her out of a tidal rock pool and into the ocean.
His body was found about an hour later during an extensive search that included PolAir helicopters and Naval Area Command.
Police seen speaking to onlookers after a young man went missing while surfing in Coogee
While the search for the man continued, people were seen hugging each other by the water.
At around 4am, a 25-year-old woman was swept out to sea after a strong wave knocked her out of the rock pool at Maroubra Beach and into the ocean.
The body has not yet been officially identified, but police believe it is the missing woman.
Authorities are urging Australians to stay away from Sydney’s beaches on Thursday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a hazardous surf warning for the coastline, advising swimmers to stay out of the water and avoid areas exposed to surf.
Similar warnings are in place for the Byron, Coffs, Macquarie, Hunter, Illawarra and Eden coasts, with hazardous conditions expected throughout New Year’s Day.
‘People should consider staying away from water and avoid walking near areas exposed to surf,’ the warning said.
Rock fishermen are being told to seek safer platforms, while boats are being warned not to cross shallow bars due to the ongoing risk.
Northern Beaches surf lifesaving co-ordinator Steve Downman said Sydney beaches were being battered by ‘walls of white water’ and powerful waves.
“It’s definitely not a good idea to go to the beach today, most beaches will be closed,” he told ABC Radio Sydney.
‘We expect extremely large and dangerous waves of up to two and a half to three metres.’
