Tragically, two adolescents drowned on separate beaches within a 24-hour period, prompting lifeguards to urge swimmers to be cautious.
Both 17-year-old and 19-year-old young men perished on beaches in Victoria on Christmas and Boxing Day.
Monday afternoon, the 17-year-old went swimming with friends at Melbourne’s Mordialloc Beach.
At approximately 4:00 p.m., he was reported missing, prompting a comprehensive search and rescue operation.
A 17-year-old teenager went missing while swimming with pals at Melbourne’s Mordialloc Beach, prompting a massive search and rescue operation (photo, Mordialloc Beach lifeguards).
On Christmas and Boxing Day, two adolescents drowned at Victoria beaches.
Life Saving Victoria and Police Air Wing helicopters searched the ocean for the missing adolescent.
Along the water, police rescue boats also started a search.
The youngster was discovered lifeless in the water around 45 minutes later.
Tragically, he died at the scene despite paramedics administering CPR upon his return to shore.
It comes one day after another adolescent drowned on Christmas at Cumberland River Beach, just south of Lorne on Victoria’s Surf Coast.
Two additional men were hospitalized after the trio encountered hazardous surf.
On Sunday evening, just before 6 p.m., one of the three was in trouble while bodysurfing at the beach.
The two others attempted to aid, but found themselves in peril as well. All three were able to return to shore before falling.
Police rescue boats (pictured) launched a search on the water, while Air Wing helicopters searched for the adolescent from the air.
A Victorian off-duty police officer and a witness attempted to assist the victim before police and Surf Life Rescue started CPR.
The 19-year-old male victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and police are currently producing a report for the coroner.
A 20-year-old guy was airlifted to The Alfred hospital, where his condition is reportedly stable.
The 25-year-old male was transported by vehicle to the Geelong University Public Hospital, where he is said to be in stable condition.
The three males are believed to be from Melbourne’s western suburb of St Albans.
It brings the overall number of drownings in Victoria in December to 19, with lifeguards reporting an unusually busy start to the season.
On Christmas Day, a 19-year-old male drowned at Cumberland River Beach, just south of Lorne on Victoria’s Surf Coast, while bodysurfing with two companions (pictured, police and surf live rescue try to help the three men after they returned to shore)
This month, lifesavers and lifeguards from Life Saving Victoria have completed 102 rescues at patrolled beaches, compared to 30 rescues during the same month in 2021.
“After flood events have ravaged communities across the state, people are rushing to our coastlines to enjoy the water, which may have contributed to the increase in rescues,” said LSV general manager of lifesaving services Liam Krige.
Mr. Krige stated, “Any body of water can represent a threat, so please make safe decisions whenever you are in, on, or near water, such as never swimming alone and actively supervising youngsters.”
Which includes keeping children under the age of five within arm’s reach and under the age of ten in your constant and direct line of sight, wearing an approved lifejacket when boating or fishing, and keeping in mind that alcohol and water-related activities do not mix.
»At Christmas and Boxing Day, Victorian adolescents drown at Mordialloc Beach and Lorne«