Off the coast of a popular tourist town at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, tragedy struck as two British tourists lost their lives in a drowning incident. The victims, a 17-year-old boy and a 46-year-old man, were swept out to sea on Sunday while swimming at a beach in Seventeen Seventy, a town in Queensland that was named after the year Captain James Cook arrived in Australia. Despite efforts from all involved, the pair was declared dead at the scene after being rescued from the water by a police helicopter.
Authorities have confirmed that the deceased individuals were from the UK, but their identities have not been disclosed yet. CapRescue, the emergency rescue service that responded to the incident, described Sunday’s mission as challenging and expressed sorrow over the tragic outcome. Another Australian man is currently in critical condition after also being swept out to sea and sustaining serious head injuries. He was airlifted to a nearby hospital for treatment.
According to Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Darren Everard, it is uncertain whether the third individual who entered the water was attempting to rescue the drowning victims. The lack of lifeguards in the area highlights the importance of seeking local knowledge before swimming, especially since there is only one patrolled beach within a 50-kilometre radius of Seventeen Seventy. While the police are treating the drownings as non-suspicious, they will be providing a report to the coroner for further investigation.
Statistics from Royal Life Saving Australia reveal that 107 people drowned in Australia last year, with a quarter of them being born overseas. Coastal fatalities in the country are often linked to incidents occurring around creeks and headlands during high tide when conditions are chaotic. To prevent such tragedies, Everard emphasized the importance of heeding safety warnings, such as swimming between the flags, and seeking advice from local experts when engaging in water activities
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