Tragic start to Easter as four drown and one missing (2025)

Four people are dead and there are grave fears for a fifth who remains missing after being swept out to sea in a spate of drowning tragedies at the start of the Easter long weekend.

Two men drowned after being washed from the rocks in separate Illawarra and South Coast incidents on Good Friday, April 18.

A 58-year-old man drowned after a huge wave swept him off the Wollongong Harbour breakwall and into the water, and the body of another man was pulled from a Far South Coast beach in a separate incident hours later.

The first man was walking out along the wall to go fishing at Wollongong when a large wave allegedly washed him off through a missing fence panel and into Belmore Basin, a witness said.

One of the man's family members jumped into the water after him as witnesses screamed for nearby kayakers to come and help.

"I saw him in the water, he didn't have much energy," witness Julius Taavao said.

"He was floating, he looked blank and his eyes were closed.

"One of the family members jumped in, and he was pretty much just stayed with him and tried to keep him afloat."

Community members and rock fishers watched on as paramedics and police arrived at the scene just before 6.15am on Friday, April 18. The 58-year-old man could not be revived.

Police have called for witnesses to the tragedy.

NSW Police is also investigating after a man drowned on the state's Far South Coast.

Emergency services were called to City Rock Road in Green Cape due to reports of someone in the water.

South Coast police officers were told a man had been seen fishing before being washed off the rocks at the beach, south of Eden.

A body was found in the water a short time later, but has not been identified.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

In the country's south-east, emergency workers were called to a beach near San Remo, 125km southeast of Melbourne, on Friday morning after reports three people were washed into the water.

One woman managed to get back to shore while an aerial search found a second woman unresponsive in the water.

She could not be revived. A search continues for the man.

Punchbowl Rocks Beach is near the George Bass coastal walk and surrounded by high bluffs, reefs and rocks.

Another man drowned at Mosman on Sydney's north shore on Friday morning.

Emergency services were called to Middle Head Point after 10am after a man is believed to have fallen from rocks into the water.

A body was found in water nearby a short time later,

Wollongong breakwall: 'He wasn't even fishing'

Despite a hazardous surf warning for the Illawarra coastline on Thursday and Friday, Mr Taavao said there were numerous people fishing from the breakwall at the time of the incident in Wollongong.

"He wasn't even fishing, he was just going out there," he said.

"One of the locals was calling us over and I saw one of their family members running."

Mr Taavao regularly travels from his home at Oran Park in Sydney's west to fish at the site, and, along with his fellow anglers, they are concerned with the breakwall's dilapidated fence that has missing panels.

"The local boys have complained to council about it," he said.

In July 2022, 73-year-old Balgownie man Nikola Arcaba drowned after being swept off the same part of the breakwall while he was fishing. At the time, large sections of the fence had either fallen down or were missing entirely.

'It's not safe to go out there'

Mr Taavao and his friend Nae Pare arrived at the popular fishing spot at around midnight, and they had been chatting with the man who drowned prior to his death.

The duo had walked to the end of the breakwall to go fishing and decided against it.

"We saw how dangerous it was, and our equipment almost got washed off, so we pulled the pin," Mr Taavao said.

"After that we did warn everyone 'it's not safe to go out there'."

Ms Pare loves fishing and often travels to Wollongong breakwall to try her luck.

"It's good when it's calm, there's usually heaps of families here," she said. "Some of these fish are seasonal and a lot of them will go soon."

Police investigate and call for witnesses

As the man's body was removed from the beach at Belmore Basin, bystanders watched on and continued to take photos of the powerful surf as it slammed into the breakwall.

NSW Police officers spoke to several people at the scene of the drowning and have called on the public for more information.

"Investigations into the incident are under way and any witnesses who have not yet spoken to police are urged to come forward," they said.

Transport for NSW Maritime manages the breakwall and a spokesman said an urgent review would be conducted.

"We are urgently reviewing the circumstances surrounding this incident, including the condition of fencing along the breakwall," he said.

He also offered his sympathies to the family of the fisherman.

"Transport for NSW Maritime extends its deepest sympathies to the family and loved ones of the man who tragically lost his life at Wollongong Harbour this morning," he said.

"Due to the unpredictable nature of surf conditions, Transport for NSW Maritime urges the public to exercise extreme caution near coastal areas, particularly around breakwalls and rocky shorelines."

A hazardous surf warning remains in place for the Illawarra on Saturday, April 19.

Australians urged to take care

Australians have been urged to take care on the water during the long weekend.

In NSW, the Bureau of Meteorology cautioned residents to take extra care along major parts of the coast due to hazardous surf and swell conditions.

Affected areas include Byron coast, Coffs coast, Macquarie coast, Hunter coast, Sydney and the Illawarra coast.

"Surf and swell conditions are expected to be hazardous for coastal activities such as rock fishing, boating, and swimming in the following areas," the bureau said in a statement.

Over the past 20 years, 118 Australians have drowned during Easter, according to Royal Life Saving Australia.

- With AAP