A Sydney mother has tragically died after heroically racing into dangerous surf to rescue her young son, becoming one of three people to lose their lives on New South Wales beaches in a devastating 24-hour period.
A Mother's Final Act of Bravery
Melissa Austin, 45, from Berowra, was pulled from the water at Dunbogan Beach near Port Macquarie. The tragedy unfolded on the very first day of her family holiday. The mother of two had just finished the busy Christmas period at her hair salon in Berowra before the incident.
Surf Life Saving NSW's James Turnham explained the heartbreaking sequence of events. "It's believed that the son was originally in trouble on a body board and some family members have gone to try and assist and unfortunately the mother has died," he said.
Her community in Berowra is now in mourning, with her salon window filled with candles, cards, and floral tributes. "Disbelief. Everybody knows her in Berowra. She's a part of the fabric of the place," said local cafe owner Brett Nipper.
Search Continues for Missing Swimmer at Coogee
Meanwhile, hope is fading for a second victim in Sydney's east. Sushan Khadka, a 24-year-old Nepalese bartender, has been missing since early yesterday morning after being swept out at Coogee Beach. He was swimming with friends just metres from his workplace at the Coogee Pavilion.
"They were able to save and rescue two of those gentlemen. Unfortunately, when they turned for the third, he had already submerged," said Surf Life Saving NSW's Steven Pearce.
A massive search operation involving lifeguards on boats, jet skis, snorkellers, and divers has been scouring the area from the cliff faces to deep below the water. Coogee Beach remains closed for a second day, with lifeguards actively ordering swimmers out of the water.
A Preventable Tragedy Sparks Safety Plea
The recent spate of incidents has pushed the summer toll even higher. Since New Year's Eve, three people have drowned and two remain missing off NSW beaches, with searches also scaled back for a 14-year-old boy at Palm Beach.
Authorities have issued a stern and emotional warning, labelling the deaths as entirely avoidable. "It's terrible. These were all preventable deaths," Pearce said. He urgently reminded swimmers to stay between the red and yellow flags and only enter the water during official patrol hours.
"Learn the lesson from these tragic circumstances," Pearce urged. The warning comes as Surf Life Saving NSW revealed they have performed a staggering 110 rescues since Christmas Day alone, highlighting the extreme dangers present on the state's coastline this summer.
