Father drowns for love
A 41-YEAR-OLD man has drowned trying to save his children at Skenes Creek beach in a family tragedy just days before Christmas.
The Sydenham man’s two sons, aged 8 and 12, were playing in the water when they appeared to “get into a bit of trouble”, Sergeant Mark Hobbs said. “The dad has gone out to save them, he’s gotten into a bit of trouble.”
A 41-YEAR-OLD man has drowned after trying to save his children at Skenes Creek beach just four days out from Christmas.
The Sydenham man’s two sons, aged eight and 12, were playing in the water when they appeared to “get into a bit of trouble”, Sergeant Mark Hobbs said.
“The dad has gone out to save them, he’s gotten into a bit of trouble,” he said.
Sgt Hobbs said the older boy managed to get out of the water, and the man’s brotherin-law and a French female tourist entered the water to try to save the struggling father and youngest son.
“They pulled the little boy out, but the dad, it was a bit too late ... he was pulled out unresponsive.”
Emergency services were called to the beach off the Great Ocean Road near the Skenes Creek camping ground about 1.20pm yesterday.
Paramedics spent more than half an hour working on the man but he died at the scene.
Sergeant Hobbs said conditions were “pretty rough” and windy at the unpatrolled beach.
The two children were taken to Geelong hospital.
“Two primary school-aged children were taken to Geelong University Public Hospital in a stable condition with no obvious injuries,” Ambulance Victoria said.
“They’re aware that (their) father has passed away, they had a minute with him on the beach,” Sgt Hobbs said.
Their mother was also present at the scene of the tragedy.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Sgt Hobbs urged beachgoers to swim at patrolled beaches between the flags.
Drownings in the Christmas to New Year period increased across the country last year with four times the average reported.
The recently released Victorian Drowning Report for 2016-17 revealed 45 people lost their lives to drowning in Vic- toria during the 2016-17 financial year, a 20 per cent increase on the 10-year average.
Principal research associate for Lifesaving Victoria, Bernadette Matthews, said paramedics also attended 54 non-fatal drowning incidents in Victoria during the period, bringing the number of drowning incidents across the state to 99.
“Drownings are shocking to both families of the victims and the public, especially because each drowning could have been prevented,” Dr Matthews said.
“Non-fatal drownings gain less attention, but they also have far-reaching effects on 1 Inarduous couple 2 Uncle Arthur is bright 3 Guaranteed to run seed
transplants families and also on the victims, who may never fully recover. “These figures highlight the importance of all Victorians having the opportunity to learn swimming and water safety skills.”
Dr Matthews said there was still work to be done in educating Victorians on water safety.