Tragedy near Byron
Drowning death days before summer patrols
A 21-YEAR-OLD man has drowned on an unpatrolled northern NSW beach just days before summer lifesaving patrols begin.
An off-duty Brazilian firefighter risked his life to try to save the Brisbane man, who got into trouble in surf at Tallow Beach, near Byron Bay.
The firie dragged the man, who he found face down in the water, to shore and commenced CPR before NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived.
They spent 30 minutes trying to revive the man but he died at the scene.
It is understood the man’s girlfriend was on the beach when he began to struggle, and she raised the alarm around 12.30pm (NSW time).
Northern NSW Lifeguard Co-ordinator Scott McCartney said the drowning may have been avoided if he had been swimming on a patrolled beach.
“Our goal as lifeguards is to create the safest swimming environment and have zero drownings (on our beaches) each year.”
Dr Rob Brander, aka Dr Rip, who was on the Gold Coast last night for the premiere of National Geographic documentary Rip Current Heroes, created by Gold Coaster Jason Markland, said he was “not surprised” by the drowning but he was “disappointed”.
“You don’t cross the street without looking both ways and you shouldn’t go in the water without checking it out before you go out,” he said.
Far North Coast Surf Life Saving emergency services co-ordinator Jimmy Keogh said this tragedy may not have occurred if lifesavers had been on the beach.
“It would have been close enough (to see him),” Mr Keogh said.
“It is a tragic start (to the summer). It happened on the change of tide from low to high.
A report is being prepared for the coroner.