Port Macquarie lifeguards from the Australian Lifeguard Service (ALS) have retrieved a man from the water at Oxley Beach this afternoon. Sadly, CPR attempts were unsuccessful.
At around 2.30pm Thursday, the Surf Emergency Response System was alerted by Police to a person believed to be caught in a rip and in need of assistance at the unpatrolled Oxley Beach.
Lifeguards on duty at nearby Town Beach attended within minutes of the callout and with the assistance of a rescue board and jetski, brought the man ashore and commenced CPR including the use of a defibrillator.
Paramedics arrived soon after, along with Duty Officers from Surf Life Saving Mid North Coast Branch. Attempts at CPR were unsuccessful and it appears the man may have been bodyboarding at the time.
Lifeguard supervisor James Turnham said it was a sad outcome and reinforced the need to swim at a patrolled location between the flags.
“Swimming at an unpatrolled beach means that if anything goes wrong, there may not be anyone there who can help. This is a very sad incident and our thoughts are with the man’s family and friends,” said James Turnham.
Thursday 5 April 2018