An Indian-Australian man is dead and other two have been hospitalised in a critical condition after being pulled from the water near Apollo Bay in Victoria’s southwest.
Victoria Police said that on Sunday (17 March 2024) the trio were swimming at Marengo when they got into trouble just after 1 pm.
A female swimmer, 33-year-old Brianna Hurst, was able to bring all three men, who were unconscious in the water, to shore and immediately began CPR.
Despite her efforts to save the man’s life, the 26-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene.
The other two men men were airlifted to hospital.
A man aged in his 20s was airlifted to the Alfred Hospital in a critical condition.
Another man, aged 23, was taken in an ambulance to Barwon Health in Geelong in a critical condition.
It is being reported that the men are residents of the Western suburbs.
Executive adviser of Life Saving Victoria Paul Shannon told ABC:
“All waterways are dangerous at anytime. If you don’t have the swimming capability or the knowledge to understand where risk is, you’re really putting yourself in danger.”
Police are still investigating why the men found themselves in trouble in the water.
Senior Sergeant Bull told ABC:
“It doesn’t appear that there was a strong rip or a strong tide but we’re still working through that as to the exact cause.”
A report is being prepared for the coroner in the case of this tragic drowning death.
There have been 27 drowning deaths in Victoria since December 1.
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