SURF RESCUE TRAGEDY
FATHER AND SON KILLED: Lifesavers die trying to help man swept out to sea off Great Ocean Road
TRIBUTES have flowed for a father and son who died trying to save a tourist in treacherous waters off Port Campbell.
Dairy farmers and volunteer lifesavers Ross and Andy Powell were longstanding members of the community, and will be sorely missed by all who knew them.
“It’s an absolutely tragedy — a surreal situation,” Corangamite mayor Neil Trotter said.
THE heroic father and son who died attempting to save a tourist in the treacherous waters off Port Campbell have been remembered as respected members of the tight-knit coastal town.
Dairy farmers Ross and Andy Powell were longstanding members of the community, and will be sorely missed by all who knew them.
Corangamite mayor Neil Trotter said the men were pillars of their community.
“It’s an absolutely tragedy — a surreal situation,” he said.
“These are lifelong members of the community and lifelong friends of mine. It hits home.”
The father and son duo were kind and hardworking men, Mr Trotter said.
“They were extremely community minded,” he said. “Very strong family ethic.
“They were very good farmers who excelled in their field.”
The 32-year-old and 71year-old volunteer surf lifesavers from the Port Campbell Surf Life Saving Club were in a 6m rigid-hull inflatable boat with another rescuer when it flipped in the 2m swell.
They were trying to reach a man who got into difficulties while wading in the mouth of the Sherbrook River, a few kilometres east of Port Campbell, about 10.40am yesterday.
The other rescuer — the rescue boat’s skipper — and the tourist were winched to a helicopter but the Powells could not be saved and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The male rescuer suffered serious injuries and was flown to a Melbourne hospital.
Life Saving Victoria president Paul James described the d duo as “heroes” who were highly experienced and long-serving Port Campbell volunteers.
The tragedy was “terrible and heartbreaking”, Mr James said, forcing back tears.
“For whatever reason, that boat has got into difficulty. One of rescuers in that boat has been rescued by an air ambulance helicopter,” he said.
“The patient was also rescued and transferred to hospital. But the remaining two crew members have unfortunately died at the scene.’’
Warrnambool Senior Sergeant Brett Jackson said the men were both experienced and dedicated volunteers and their deaths would be felt by the whole community.
“It’s ’ a very tight-knit community and unfortunately this is a tragic set of circumstances,” he said. “Both men were involved heavily in the community.”
The police officer said the tourist was having a swim and wading in the waters, not taking pictures as previously reported, when he got into trouble. He was at the mouth of the Sherbrook River and swept out to sea in a fast rip.
A man working at the Port Campbell Hotel said the mood in the usually bustling tourist town was low. “It’s a tragedy,” he said.
Local shops and venues have started cancelling Easter events in the wake of the tragedy.