A second man has died in the waters off the New South Wales South Coast in as many days, with emergency services responding to a tragic drowning at Jervis Bay on Saturday afternoon.
Second tragedy in 48 hours
ACT Policing, which handles policing in the Jervis Bay Territory, confirmed that emergency services were called to Greenpatch Beach on the bay's southern shore late Saturday afternoon. The call came after reports of multiple people struggling in rough surf conditions.
Officers stated that a 34-year-old man from New South Wales was pulled from the water. Despite immediate attempts at CPR on the beach, he was declared deceased at the scene. Three other individuals received treatment from paramedics but did not require further medical attention.
This incident follows another fatal event just one day earlier. On Friday afternoon, off-duty lifesavers pulled a man believed to be in his 50s from the water at Lobster Bay Beach, south of Shoalhaven. The man, who was reportedly fishing, had become entangled in a net. Paramedics were unable to revive him, and police are investigating whether the cause was drowning, a heart attack, or another medical episode.
A deadly start to the new year
The latest fatalities contribute to what Surf Lifesaving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce has labelled an "absolutely horrendous" start to 2026 along the state's coastline.
Prior to the South Coast incidents, the new year began with tragedy at Maroubra on New Year's Day. A 25-year-old woman, believed to be a Chinese national, was reportedly hit by a wave, knocked into a rock pool, and then swept out to sea. Later that same day, a search was launched for a missing swimmer at Coogee.
On Thursday, a 45-year-old woman was pulled unconscious from the water off Dunbogan Beach on the mid north coast and could not be saved. These events were preceded by the death of a man on New Year's Eve after a dinghy capsized at Sydney's Palm Beach.
The risk of drowning over the New Year period is three times higher than at any other time of the year, according to AAP.
Authorities issue urgent safety plea
In response to the spate of incidents, NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib and Surf Lifesaving NSW have issued stern warnings to the public. Minister Dib urged people not to be cavalier about the "extremely dangerous" conditions prevailing across the state's coastline.
"I'm urging everyone to please make safe decisions, look out for each other and respect the conditions," Mr Dib said.
Steve Pearce's warning was even more direct: "If you enter, you're effectively putting your own life at risk today." The message from authorities is clear: swimmers must exercise extreme caution, swim only at patrolled beaches between the flags, and heed all safety advice.
ACT Policing will prepare a report on Saturday's Jervis Bay drowning for the Coroner.
