More than 150 people have been rescued and 42 ambulances tasked to respond to incidents at NSW beaches over the course of Saturday February 17 and Sunday February 18.
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This includes two incidents which unfolded on Mid North Coast and North Coast beaches after a Kempsey man passed away at Hat Head Beach and another was reported missing at Valla Beach.
On Sunday February 18 at around 4pm, a 24-year-old Kempsey man collapsed while swimming at Hat Head Beach.
The man’s girlfriend dragged him unconscious from the water and members of the public began CPR until NSW Ambulance paramedics arrived however, the man died at the scene.
Police from the Mid North Coast Police District will prepare a report for the information of the NSW Coroner.
Meanwhile, On Saturday February 17 at around 5.45pm, a 22-year-old man who was swimming with a group at Valla Beach became stuck in a rip and was reportedly swept out to sea.
Police and emergency services responded to the incident and officers attached to the Mid North Coast Police District established a command post at the Nambucca Heads Surf Life Saving Club and began a search of the area.
As of the morning of Monday February 19 the search continued.
The search operations have involved the Westpac Rescue Helicopter, PolAir, Marine Rescue and Surf Life Saving as well as Water Police and the Volunteer Rescue Association. It’s believed the man is from Brisbane.
Powerful surf conditions also caused chaos elsewhere in NSW with multiple swimmers getting into difficulty at beaches up and down the NSW coast.
Despite the challenging swell, NSW SLS said the beaches were packed as crowds gathered to escape the heat. At Kiama Beach on the South Coast of NSW, a 15-year-old was pulled from the water and taken to hospital.
Two swimmers were also rescued by surfers at Turimetta Beach, North Narrabeen, while a surfer was transported to hospital after swallowing water in an incident at South Narrabeen.
At Avoca Beach on the Central Coast, there was a mass rescue carried out by lifesavers who utilised a jet ski and an inflatable rescue boat to pull 6 people from a rip current. Hazardous surf conditions are predicted up until Wednesday.
Swell heights for beaches at Crescent Head, Hat Head and South West Rocks will remain in excess of three metres up until Wednesday morning when surf conditions will downgrade to ‘moderate’.