Tragic Easter Weekend in Australia: Seven People Drown, Including 9-Year-Old Boy

Australia faced a heart-breaking Easter weekend, as seven people lost their lives to drowning, with most incidents happening in New South Wales (NSW), BBC reported.

Among the victims was a nine-year-old boy who got stuck between rocks at Southwest Rocks, about 400 km north of Sydney. Emergency teams rescued him, but sadly, he died at the scene. This has been the worst Easter weekend for drownings in recent memory, said Steven Pearce, CEO of Surf Life Saving NSW. He described it as a tragic time during what should have been a joyful and peaceful holiday.

Most of the drownings happened due to strong waves washing people off the rocks and into the ocean. Two people are still missing, and rescue teams are continuing their search.

Since Good Friday, Surf Life Saving NSW has conducted over 150 rescues. Pearce explained that a mix of hot weather, the long weekend, and dangerous ocean conditions led to the high number of accidents.

While the weather is expected to improve by Monday, officials are urging everyone to be extra careful, especially around water. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences and urged families to stay alert, especially when children are near water.

In the 12 months leading up to June 2024, 323 people drowned in Australia. About 40% of those deaths happened in New South Wales, according to Royal Life Saving Australia. These figures include drownings in rivers, creeks, and beaches.