Victoria Police said emergency services responded to four people in difficulty at Forrest Caves,on the island’s south-eastern coast,about 3.30pm.
Three women and a man were pulled from the water unresponsive and received CPR. Three were later pronounced dead at the scene.
The deceased are believed to be a man in his 40s and two women in their 20s. A third woman,also believed to be in her 20s,has been airlifted to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition.
More than a dozen distraught family members and friends huddled at the beach car park on the other side of the dunes on Wednesday night.
A middle-aged man in a white singlet was inconsolable,repeatedly yelling,“I should have stopped them” as the light faded and emergency workers watched on.
Three people have died and one is critical after being pulled from the water at a Victorian holiday hotspot.
Covered bodies were loaded into vans about 8pm and the man cried as they drove off. Clasping his hands in a prayer-like gesture,he had to be restrained by family members as they pulled away.
“I’m sorry,I’m sorry,” he cried out,while others in the group tried to comfort him.
The boardwalk over the dunes to the beach was reopened shortly after 8pm.
From the viewing platform overlooking the sea,a rip current was visible in the surf near where the tragedy occurred.
Footprints still covered the sand hours after the rescue efforts,and markings remained where the air ambulance landed earlier.
Lifeguards and paramedics responded to the distressed group just after 3.30pm,traversing a gravel track off a main road to get to the coast.
SES crews were also on the scene. Victoria Police said a report would be prepared for the coroner about the non-suspicious deaths.
Local emergency services have already dealt with several other drownings nearby this summer.
,about two kilometres north-east of Forrest Caves,a man drowned near the township of Surf Beach.
Another man aged in his 20s died at Kilcunda Surf Beach,also on the Bass Coast,the same day – January 12.
In Melbourne,paramedics were also called to an incident at Frankston beach about 4.10pm on Wednesday involving a primary-school-aged girl.
Ambulance Victoria said the girl was taken to Frankston Hospital in a stable condition.
Get the day’s breaking news,entertainment ideas and a long read to enjoy.