Young boy, age nine, tragically drowns at well-known NSW vacation site during Easter weekend surge in drownings | New South Wales

A nine-year-old boy tragically died after becoming trapped between rocks at a popular holiday spot on the New South Wales mid-north coast during the Easter holiday, adding to the rising number of drowning deaths. Despite efforts by police and emergency services to free the boy at South West Rocks on Sunday afternoon, he sadly passed away at the scene. The Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive, Steven Pearce, highlighted the gravity of the situation, emphasizing it as the most severe Easter long weekend in terms of drowning incidents. Rescue teams in NSW and Victoria are still searching for two men who went missing on Friday. In Sydney, two men were swept off rocks while fishing at Wattamolla in the Royal National Park, resulting in one fatality. Additionally, a 58-year-old fisherman died after being swept into the water at Wollongong Harbour and another man drowned at Mosman on Sydney’s north shore. On the NSW south coast, authorities retrieved a body after a fisherman was reported swept off rocks into the water near Green Cape. Australians are urged to exercise caution on the water during the remaining long weekend, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressing his grief for the loved ones lost. It is crucial for families, particularly, to be vigilant and take necessary precautions to safeguard their children.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/21/nine-year-old-boy-dies-at-popular-nsw-holiday-spot-amid-spate-of-drownings-over-easter-long-weekend