The search for a male washed off the rocks at the treacherous Hill 60 in Port Kembla yesterday has continued this morning with Surf Life Saving assets deployed from 8am in the Illawarra.
The notorious point just south of Wollongong has accounted for five coastal drownings since the beginning of 2021.
Two Inflatable Rescue Boats (IRB) from Port Kembla SLSC and Bulli SLSC, two Support Operations Rescue Water Craft (RWC) vessels, two further RWCs from Wollongong City Council, two SLSNSW UAVs and three Marine Rescue vessels have hit the water after the search was suspended yesterday evening just after 5pm due to bad light. Polair is also attending.
At approximately 3.48pm on Monday 25 April the SLSNSW Marine Area Command Liaison Officer was notified that a group of males had been swept into the water off Honeycomb Point, on the southern side of Hill 60.
With Surf Rescue assets supported by Shellharbour and Port Kembla Lifeguards on site, it was established that a 19-year-old male had gotten into trouble on the rock platform and was washed into the ocean. Two of his friends jumped in to assist and also got into trouble.
The two friends were quickly accounted for, the first being rescued by Port Kembla IRB and the second making his own way into shore. However, the third male remains missing.
He was last seen wearing a white jumper, beige pants and boots.
The incident comes after a rock fisherman at Killalea Beach in Shell Cove, less than half an hour south of Port Kembla, was washed off the rocks the day before. He was successfully rescued by a Kiama Downs SLSC IRB. The man in his 30s was wearing a life jacket and has no injuries.
As of Tuesday, 26 April, coastal drowning deaths in NSW for the 2021-22 season, since 1 July, sit at 49. Last season at the same time, there had been 42 deaths recorded.
Tuesday 26 April 2022