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Canberra Today 13°/15° | Saturday, March 30, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Mum dies trying to save her son

A MUM-of-two died after being pulled out of a south coast beach yesterday (January 17) afternoon. 

Just before 4.30pm, emergency services were called to Congo Beach, south of Moruya, after reports a woman and boy were stuck in a rip.

Surf Life Saving NSW believe the woman, a 50-year-old from Sydney, entered the water to assist her 10-year-old son who was caught in a rip.

A surfer helped the woman and boy back to shore, where they were pulled from the water by witnesses.

Witnesses did CPR, but the woman died a short time later.

The boy is uninjured.

According to Surf Life Saving duty officers who attended, surf conditions at the time of the incident were quite large, with a 1.5 metre swell and large sets of waves hitting the beach, which is located in a very remote location and is not patrolled by volunteer surf lifesavers or lifeguards.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce described the incident as a tragic way end to what should have been a happy day on the beach for the young family.

“It is a natural reaction to race into the water when we see our family and friends get into difficulty, but we’re pleading with people to stop and think for a moment before diving in and to look for a nearby rescue device, or even an esky lid or bodyboard, to use as a flotation device. It can make a huge difference to the outcome,” Mr Pearce said.

Mr Pearce said thus is the third incident since July 1 where a bystander has drowned while attempting to rescue someone caught in a rip. The two other recent drownings occurred at Woonona Beach, Illawarra and Frazer Beach on the Central Coast.

Anyone with information about the incident at Congo Beach is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

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Ian Meikle, editor

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