Tragic start to 2019 with three drownings across three states
Three men have died in separate drowning incidents at Australian beaches on New Year’s Day, making it a tragic start to 2019.
A 34-year-old man died after he was pulled from the water unconscious at a beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Emergency services were called to Clovelly Beach at 1.54pm on Tuesday, where they found the patient with a doctor already on scene, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said.
The man did not respond to CPR or the use of a defibrillator to restart his heart.
Police confirmed shortly after 3pm the man had died.
Clovelly Beach: Police say a 34-year-old man has drowned after being pulled from the water unconscious. A doctor at the scene attempted to resuscitate him, however he was unable to be revived. #Clovelly #7News pic.twitter.com/p4x2AlLryQ
— 7 News Sydney (@7NewsSydney) January 1, 2019
Officers from Eastern Beaches Police Area Command attended and are investigating the incident.
Local officers will prepare a report for the coroner.
Second drowning in the space of hours
Earlier in the day a man drowned at a popular but unpatrolled swimming spot on Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island.
Paramedics were called to Frenchman’s Beach at Point Lookout just before 12.30pm where a man in his 40s was in a critical condition.
Despite paramedics working on him for more than an hour, he could not be saved.
Third death confirmed in Victoria
A man has drowned while swimming at Paynesville about 4.30pm.
The 45-year-old man from Bairnsdale was with his wife and family in waters off Sunset Drive.
At about 4.50pm he was noticed in difficulty and pulled from the water.
Attempts were made to resuscitate the man however he died at the scene.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
