Fourth person killed in mass drowning

A fourth person has died after four swimmers were pulled from waters off Phillip Island in what life savers have called the worst drowning event in two decades.

Emergency services were called to Newhaven, southwest of Melbourne, about 3.30pm on Wednesday following reports four people were having difficulty in the water.

Three women and a man were pulled from the water unresponsive and CPR was performed.

Tragically, a woman and a man both in their 20s from Clyde, NSW, and another woman in her 40s who was visiting from overseas each died at the scene.

A third woman, believed to be in her 20s and also from Clyde, was rushed to Alfred Hospital in a critical condition where she later died on Thursday.

Victoria Police Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner Karen Nyholm said the swimmers were an extended family group and police were still notifying their next of kin.

Of the group, Ms Nyholm said one of the women was holidaying in Australia and the other three, who she did not specify, were from Clyde, in Melbourne's southeast.

“My understanding is that they were wading in the water. There is a lot of air down there which involves rocks and rock pools,” she said.

“But, my understanding is that they wouldn’t be the water side not so much the rock pool area.”

The incident is understood to have occurred at Forest Caves, a popular tourist destination on Phillip Island known for its sea caves.

Life Saving Victoria General Manager of Operations Liam Krige said the area was best known for its surfing, which also carried a heightened risk of rips occurring.

He said the beach, which is not patrolled, is located just 4km from the nearest patrolled beach, but would not commit to investigate patrolling the area in the future.

“At this stage we cover 67 locations across the Victorian coastline. We will always explore opportunities to patrol additional locations,” he said.

“But, that again is down to the land managers and owners and local councils to determine whether that risk actually determines the need for lifeguard service.

“We need to remember that water safety is more than just rescue. It is about being really aware of the dangers and in the first instance trying to prevent those rescues.”

Mr Krige said a vast number of resources were scrambled to assist in the rescue, including the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, as well as on and off-duty surf life savers.

“My understanding is there were two off duty lifeguards that were supporting the rescue operations … We’re in the process of reaching out to those individuals,” he said.

“We’re proud of all of our volunteers and lifesavers … anyone that is willing to get into that situation and provide assistance with off duty or on duty is absolutely remarkable.

“It is extremely unfortunate that on this occasion because we did not have a patrol location maybe we were unable to facilitate a safe rescue.”

For its part, Ambulance Victoria Area Manager Paul James said the emergency service had provided two helicopters and ten ambulances to the sprawling rescue operation.

“Together with police and lifesaving Victoria, lifeguards, we all worked tirelessly to help those people,” Mr James said.

“It’s tragic in the same match that only a week ago we’ve had three other drownings here in Gippsland – three separate drownings.”

“So, we really are asking the public to take heed of the water safety messages.”