Sacrifice at Easter for hero dad, son

A VICTORIAN town is in mourning after a father and son died trying to rescue a tourist from treacherous waters, while a third rescuer remains in hospital.

Dairy farmers Ross Powell, 71, and his son Andy Powell, 32, have been remembered as heroes after their rescue boat flipped in 2m swell on Sunday morning. They had been on a rescue mission for a 30-yearold male tourist who had been wading in dangerous waters at the mouth of the Sherbrook River at Port Campbell. A third rescuer, Phil Younis, the town’s fire brigade captain, was winched from the dangerous waters after the boat flipped and was taken to hospital along with the tourist.

The rescuers were also volunteers for the State Emergency Services, with acting chief officer David Baker paying tribute to the men.

“The Port Campbell SES and the surf lifesaving club members are quite simply devastated,” Mr Baker said.

“It has left a massive hole in the hearts of those units and clubs and the Port Campbell community.”

He said Mr Younis had received “significant injuries” and had undergone surgery in hospital. He was in a stable condition yesterday.

“It’s quite simply courageous and heroic in the extreme,” Mr Baker said of their actions.

Corangamite Mayor Neil Trotter – who has known Ross all his life and Andy “since he was a baby” – said the tightknit Port Campbell community was “shattered”. With a population of only a few hundred residents, Cr Trotter said “everyone in the community knows each other”.

“It’s a bit surreal and it will take time for them to come to terms with it because everyone in the community knew them, especially in the surf club community,” he said.

EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY KNEW THEM (ROSS AND ANDY POWELL), ESPECIALLY IN THE SURF CLUB COMMUNITY

Cr Trotter said Ross was an inaugural member of the surf club, which was formed in about 1965.

He added the pair were “very community-minded people”, also volunteering for the CFA and SES.

Lifesaving Victoria president Paul James wept, describing the “highly experienced and long-serving members” of the club, as heroes.

“We know it is very treacherous down there and not a place to be swimming at all,” he said. “These brave people, these heroes, have gone out to help.” The incident will be investigated and a report prepared for the coroner.