Two men have drowned in separate tragedies off Victoria’s iconic Surf Coast over the weekend.
A 58-year-old man drowned after his small boat capsized off Anglesea, 114km southwest of Melbourne, after 2pm on Saturday.
Lifesavers found him in the water after another man on board the boat managed to swim to shore and raise the alarm. They were unable to revive him and he died at the scene, police said.
About three hours later, a 56-year-old man died after he was pulled from water at Thirteenth Beach in Barwon Heads.
He was swimming with two others when the group got into difficulty about 5pm.
A helicopter winched the man out of the water while a boy and girl were helped to shore, police said.
Emergency workers performed CPR at the beach but he died at the scene.
“Our hearts go out to this man’s family and friends. We are grateful that two people could be rescued in this incident,” Life Saving Victoria state agency commander Liam Krige said on the day.
He urged people heading out into the water to be aware of surf conditions, wear life jackets while boating and be aware of the dangers while out in the water.
The latest tragedies come less than two weeks after four people died in a single day in Victorian waters.
Mum Aida Hamed, 45, died after she was swept off rocks at Bushrangers Bay near Cape Schank on January 13.
She and three others were exploring rock pools when waves swept them into the water, an off-duty lifesaver and bystander rushed into the waves to save the group.
However all six people had to be rescued from the surf and Ms Hamed died.
The same day Lisa Mandeltort, 29, died trying to rescue a teenage girl at Venus Bay and an 80-year-old man drowned at Rye beach.
A four-year-old girl was pulled from Lysterfield Lake and died later that evening in hospital.
Reports are being prepared for the coroner.
Read related topics:MelbournencG1vNJzZmivp6x7r7HWrGWcp51jrrZ7zZqroqeelrlwwsicq6iqmZZ8r7HWrGatr59iurC%2BxGannqegobJutMCvnGacoqTEr7HDZqafnl2ptaZ51aKaraeinq6vecKomKysX6OyuL%2BMrKuoqqlkf6auw3Caaptka7B6r4%2BfbGuZYmiverGWb25wb2BusXQ%3D