Surf Lifesavers are urging people to take care around water this Anzac Day weekend after the sad death of a fisherman swept from rocks at an unpatrolled beach south of Forster on Friday.
At around 3pm, emergency services were alerted to two rock fishers in trouble at the southern end of Seven Mile beach in Booti Booti National Park.
The Lower North Coast Branch Duty Officer was alerted and activated Pacific Palms SLSC callout team, additional duty officers along with lifeguards on duty at nearby Elizabeth beach.
Australian Lifeguard Service lifeguards launched the jetski and the volunteer club callout team launched an IRB.
The jetski operator located the first patient in the water. Working with the IRB crew, the unresponsive patient was transferred to the boat and transported to shore to awaiting paramedics, police and SLS duty officers.
Paramedics performed CPR and a doctor arrived a short time later aboard the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter. Unfortunately the patient could not be revived.
The second fisherman was able to climb back up the rocks and was assisted by NSW Police.
“With the volunteer patrol season ending on Monday, we strongly advise people to head to a patrolled location and please wear a lifejacket if you are fishing,” said Surf Life Saving NSW Director of Lifesaving Joel Wiseman.
“Our volunteers are out in force over the next three days and our Support Operations teams are conducting extra roving patrols using jetskis and drones so we are really throwing everything we can at keeping people safe this weekend.”
To find your nearest patrolled beach, visit www.beachsafe.org.au or download the Beachsafe App.
Saturday 23 April 2022