In a devastating incident, four Indians, including two women, lost their lives in a drowning incident at Phillip Island, Victoria, Australia. The tragedy unfolded on an unpatrolled beach, marking the worst drowning incident in Victorian waters in nearly two decades. Emergency services responded to reports of four individuals struggling in the water near Newhaven, and despite rescue efforts, all were found unconscious and unresponsive.
Kane Treloar, the state agency commander of Life Saving Victoria, reported that lifeguards and rescue boats were dispatched to the scene. Off-duty lifeguards and rescue teams pulled three individuals from the water, and despite resuscitation attempts, three victims tragically succumbed to the incident. The names of the victims have not been disclosed by authorities.
Expressing condolences, the Indian High Commission in Canberra posted on X, “Heartbreaking tragedy in Australia: 4 Indians lost their lives in a drowning incident at Phillip Island, Victoria. Deepest condolences to the families of the victims. @cgimelbourne team is in touch with friends of the deceased for all necessary assistance @MEAIndia @DrSJaishankar.”
According to Karen Nyholm, the Victoria Police Eastern Region Assistant Commissioner, the victims comprised a man and two women in their 20s, and a woman in her 40s. The tragic incident involved an extended family group visiting the beach. Nyholm confirmed that a 43-year-old woman who died was on holiday in Australia, while the other three victims resided in the Melbourne suburb of Clyde. The profound impact of the tragedy on the affected families is acknowledged, as it marks one of the most significant drowning incidents in the state in decades.
