The sunset at the beach at Forrest Caves on Wednesday,hours after four people were pulled from the sea.Credit:Justin McManus
Treloar said Wednesday’s tragedy was the worst drowning incident in Victoria in almost two decades.
“It’s not since 2005,[when] a tragedy that occurred at Stingray Bay,that we’ve seen these sorts of numbers,” he said,referencing a drowning at Warrnambool’s Middle Island that killed five people from one family.
Police are still trying to piece together what led to Wednesday’s tragedy,but are not treating the deaths as suspicious. Emergency services warned against swimming at the relatively remote Forrest Caves beach.
“I couldn’t define the worst[incident] ever,but I certainly say this was horrific,” Nyholm said.
“And for those people that witnessed it … I’m sure it’s something they will unfortunately have to recall for the rest of their lives.”
A spokesperson for Phillip Island Nature Parks,which manages the Forrest Caves area,said the authority would review warning signs at the beach,which already had a no-swimming symbol and met Australian standards.
“There are currently two large warning signs on the two entries to the Forrest Caves beach area,” the spokesperson said.
“Nature Parks will work closely with Life Saving Victoria to review and refresh all signage and act if there is further advice to improve the safety of this beach.”
A warning sign at the Forrest Caves beach car park.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
A man drowned near the township of Surf Beach – a few kilometres north-east of Forrest Caves – almost two weeks ago.
“The rip currents there,in such an exposed stretch of coastline,are quite significant and only a very,very experienced swimmer should be entering the water to swim in those areas,” Treloar said.
He said the lifeguards among the first responders were highly experienced “but they’re certainly reeling,as everyone is,that was involved in this tragedy.”
On January 12 – the same day of the Surf Beach tragedy – another man in his 20s died after he tried to retrieve his sunglasses at Kilcunda Surf Beach,also on the Bass Coast. That same day,a diver at Port Welshpool,further east along the Gippsland coast,was found dead 20 kilometres offshore.
Forrest Caves beach on Thursday,the day after three people died in waters off the shore.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
Treloar urged those on Phillip Island to swim at three patrolled beaches,including Cowes Beach on the protected Western Port side of the island.
“The exposed beaches along Bass Strait … are a dangerous,but really beautiful stretch of coastline that a lot of people want to come and enjoy this summer,” he said.
“But the important thing is that no matter what your abilities are,there is a safe place for you to swim.”
Victorian lifeguards had responded to almost 600 rescues already this summer,Treloar said.
Ambulance Victoria area manager Paul James (left),Life Saving Victoria general manager Liam Krige and Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Karen Nyholm at Forrest Caves on Thursday.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui
The Forrest Caves are scenic rock pools further along the vast shoreline from where drownings occurred.
When asked whether the warning signs at Forrest Caves beach were sufficient,Krige said:“It’s a difficult one to say. The vast majority of beaches do have safety signage that does meet the Australian standard.
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“Those signs do give clear advice about what the dangers are. But again,people can always do more … they can always do a little bit of research before they head out to those locations.”
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
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