Three Dead and 145 Rescued from Water in Just 48 Hours
A tragic weekend saw three fatalities and 145 rescues at beaches, highlighting the dangers of swimming.
Mornington Peninsula, East Gippsland, Australia, Drowning, Lifeguards
Mornington Peninsula: It was a tough weekend for beachgoers. Three people lost their lives, and lifeguards had to rescue 145 others in just 48 hours. It’s heartbreaking.
Chloe Freeman had warned everyone about the ocean’s dangers after a tragic incident last summer. She saw her son’s body floating and urged parents to keep a close eye on their kids.
But despite her warning, lifeguards were overwhelmed. Just hours after Chloe shared her story, another family faced a nightmare when their eight-year-old son went missing in the Mitchell River.
After a frantic search, they found him, but sadly, he had drowned. It’s just so devastating to think about.
On the beaches, lifeguards were already busy with rescues. A 15-year-old girl had to be taken to the hospital after getting into trouble in Torquay.
Saturday was especially hectic, with lifeguards performing 145 rescues. The first tragedy struck early when a man was pulled from the water at Gunnamatta Beach.
Then, a jet ski collided with a boat at Safety Beach, sending three people into the water, one of whom was seriously injured. Another jet ski incident in Rye ended with a man unresponsive.
With the heatwave hitting the state, lifeguards had to perform mass rescues, pulling nine people from the water in Portsea and ten in Jan Juc.
As temperatures soared to 38C, lifeguards braced for another challenging day. Kane Treloar from Lifesaving Victoria praised their efforts, noting they had saved 145 lives in one day, a record for the season.
He reminded everyone that we all have a role in keeping each other safe at the beach. The best way to do that is to check the Beach Safe website and swim between the flags.