At least six people have tragically lost their lives in Australia as colossal waves relentlessly swept across Sydney and neighboring regions along the east coast during the Easter holiday weekend, according to authorities. The perilous conditions stemmed from a significant low-pressure system that began unleashing powerful surf on Friday. Notably, wave heights exceeding 24 feet were recorded off the coast of Brisbane in Queensland, highlighting the severity of the situation.
The Australian meteorological agency promptly issued warnings for hazardous surf, affecting a considerable stretch of coastline from Queensland down to New South Wales, including popular locales such as Sydney, Byron Bay, and the Gold Coast. Officials alerted residents and visitors alike to the extreme dangers presented by conditions that posed risks to activities like rock fishing, boating, and swimming. Tragically, by the time these warnings were lifted on Sunday, five bodies had been recovered from the waters of New South Wales, alongside another fatality in Victoria, with at least two additional individuals reported missing.
One of the most recent victims was a man fishing in Wattamolla, situated approximately 20 miles south of Sydney, who was swept into the ocean on Sunday morning. He was accompanied by a 14-year-old boy, who was ultimately rescued and taken to the hospital in stable condition. This incident marked the fifth drowning incident reported in New South Wales since Friday, with all victims believed to have been fishing or walking precariously on rocky outcrops before falling into the surging waters.
The danger was further underscored by the case of another man still unaccounted for after being swept away while traversing the rocks at Little Bay Beach in Sydney on Friday. In a sobering statistic, Royal Life Saving Australia reported that there were a total of 128 drowning incidents in New South Wales throughout 2024, with approximately half of these tragedies occurring along the coastline.
In addition to the New South Wales fatalities, Victoria reported the death of a woman on Friday morning when she was washed off the rocks in San Remo, a town located on the southern coast of the state. Another man and woman were also swept away, with the woman managing to return to shore safely while the man is still missing. Authorities have emphasized the importance of water safety in light of these alarming incidents, as communities mourn the losses amidst the unforgiving coastal struggle.
