The Australian community is mourning the tragic loss of a dedicated mother and business owner, who was one of four people to drown along the east coast on New Year's Day.
A Beloved Mother and Business Owner Lost
Melissa Austin, a 45-year-old mother of two from Berowra in North Sydney, died after being pulled from the water at Dunbogan Beach on the NSW Mid-North Coast. The incident occurred around 3pm on Thursday, January 1st. Despite immediate efforts from paramedics and police officers at the scene, she could not be revived.
Melissa was the owner of the popular Mel's Hair and Beauty salon in Berowra. The salon confirmed her passing in a heartfelt social media post on Friday, describing her as "beautiful" and asking for privacy and compassion for her grieving family, friends, and staff.
The post prompted an outpouring of grief from clients and the local community. Many described the news as "completely unexpected" and paid tribute to Melissa as a "truly beautiful person" who would be deeply missed by all who knew her.
A Holiday Tragedy Unfolds
According to her mother-in-law, Jo-Anne Bovis, the drowning occurred on the very first day of what was supposed to be a week-long family holiday. Her death is part of a devastating cluster of coastal fatalities that occurred within a 24-hour period.
Authorities confirmed two other drowning deaths at iconic Queensland beaches on New Year's Day, while NSW recorded one other separate fatality. Furthermore, searches continued for a 14-year-old boy missing at Palm Beach in North Sydney and a 25-year-old man missing at Coogee Beach, following separate incidents over the New Year period.
Urgent Safety Warning from Lifesavers
These tragic incidents were among more than 85 rescues performed by Surf Life Saving NSW personnel since Christmas Day. The spike in emergencies has triggered an urgent warning from officials about the current dangerous ocean conditions.
Steven Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW, emphasised that all the recent fatal incidents occurred on beaches that were not patrolled by lifesavers during the holiday period. He described the conditions as "super dangerous" right along the coastline and expressed frustration at the preventable loss of life.
"People are travelling to so many locations, we can't have lifesavers and lifeguards standing on every beach," Pearce stated. He issued a critical reminder to all beachgoers, urging them to swim only at patrolled locations between the red and yellow flags, where professional help is immediately available.
The series of drownings serves as a sombre start to the new year and a stark reminder of the powerful and unpredictable nature of Australian coastal waters.
