A body of a man has been found in a suspected drowning at Penrith Beach just a week after the swimming spot opened to the public.
A rescue helicopter was deployed to the beach in Sydney’s west about 3pm after reports that two people were in trouble in the water.
A child was pulled safely from the water and did not need a medical assessment, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said. However, the Toll rescue helicopter, police divers and rescue boats continued their search for a man who did not resurface.
Nine News reported the 35-year-old from St Mary’s was seen falling into the water from a paddleboard, but did not resurface.
Family members gather after a body was located at Penrith Beach.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Police cars, ambulances and fire trucks rushed to the scene and the beach was abruptly closed to the public. Family members gathered by the water while the search continued.
The body of a man was located at about 6.15pm, NSW Police said in a statement. The body is yet to be formally identified, but it is believed to be that of the missing swimmer.
The swimming spot at Penrith Lakes, dubbed “Pondi” by locals, opened to the public on December 19.
Family members gather at Penrith Beach while emergency services search for a missing man.Credit: Wolter Peeters
The suspected drowning in Sydney’s west comes after two men died in suspected medical episodes at Central Coast beaches on Christmas Day.
At the patrolled Umina Beach, lifesavers spotted a surfer in distress about 11am on Monday. The man was pulled out of the water and CPR was performed until paramedics arrived, but he could not be revived.
A NSW Police spokesperson said the man was yet to be identified, and early inquiries indicated he had suffered a medical episode.
Police divers pack up after they located a body after a drowning at Penrith Beach.Credit: Wolter Peeters
In a separate incident, a man in his 70s was pulled from the water in Copacabana Beach about 5pm on Christmas Day. Police said he had probably also suffered a medical episode.
Surf Life Saving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said multiple incidents that required CPR were reported across the state in the 48 hours to Boxing Day.
There have been four drownings on NSW beaches this summer.
The man failed to resurface at the newly opened Penrith Beach.Credit: Nine News
Meanwhile, police have called off a search for a man thought to have disappeared at Lennox Head on the Far North Coast on Christmas Eve.
A member of the public contacted police on Sunday afternoon, believing they had seen a swimmer in difficulty. However, the search was abandoned after no one matching his description was reported missing to police.
In another Christmas Eve incident, a man was pulled out of the water unresponsive at Wollumboola Lake at Culburra Beach, near Nowra.
Wild weather over the Christmas weekend is causing beach pollution in Sydney.Credit: NSW SES
Lifesavers were called from a nearby beach and performed CPR on the man for over an hour before a Toll rescue helicopter could arrive.
The man was taken to hospital where he remains in critical condition.
Balmoral Baths is likely to have storm water pollution.Credit: Nick Moir
While warning of rips and wild surf conditions are common around Christmas, Sydneysiders were told to be aware of a different water danger on Boxing Day.
Storms caused downpours and flash flooding over the Christmas weekend, contributing to high pollution levels in Sydney Harbour and other estuary swimming spots.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce.Credit: Kate Geraghty
While Bondi was deemed safe by government pollution tracker Beach Watch, popular swimming spots including Rose Bay Beach, Murray Rose Pool and Bronte Beach were all deemed unsuitable for swimming.
North of the Harbour Bridge the Balmoral Baths, Gurney Crescent Baths, Forty Baskets Pool and Clontarf Pool also all have likely pollution.
Further south, Silver Beach at Kurnell, Brighton Le Sands Baths, Kyeemagh Baths, Ramsgate Baths and surrounding swimming spots were all described as unsuitable.
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SLS NSW’s Steve Pearce said storms can cause headaches for lifesavers when trying to clear beaches quickly, especially on days like Christmas and Boxing Day when people flock to the water despite the rain.
On Australia Day this year, a 10-year-old boy was struck by lightning while playing in the water of Little Lake, near Warilla Beach in the Illawarra.
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