Two died in separate incidents off Bass Coast beaches on Friday.Credit:Justin McManus
Across Australia, nine people drowned cross the same festive period – all in NSW and Queensland.
Deaths in Victorian waters have spiked after the Christmas period. On December 27,a kayaker died off Rosebud Beach on the Mornington Peninsula.
On New Year’s Day,a man was pulled from the water at Hut Gully Beach near Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road. Irish public broadcaster RTE identified the man as a 63-year-old Irish national who was on holiday.
On January 5,a man was found unresponsive in waters near the Bay Trail boat ramp in Rye on the Mornington Peninsula about 3pm.
On Tuesday afternoon,a man died while snorkelling off Altona Beach in Melbourne’s south-west.
According to Royal Life Saving Australia statistics,there were 41 drowning deaths in Australia between December 1,2023 and January 4,2024,compared with 34 at the same point in the summer of 2022-23.
There were eight drownings in Victoria between Christmas Day and January 12. The toll is three fewer than the same period last year. However,it is two more than the 10-year average from 2014.
Life Saving Victoria’s annual report released in late November found 59 lives were lost to drowning across the state in the last financial year – a 33 per cent increase on the decade average.
Anyone who witnessed the incident or has information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report online atwww.crimestoppersvic.com.au
With Sarah McPhee
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