Australia's eastern states were left reeling this Easter weekend, with five people reported dead due to dangerously large waves. The incidents unfolded over Friday and Saturday as holidaymakers flocked to the beaches, resulting in dangerous conditions. Among the victims was a fisherman who drowned, alongside two men found dead in separate accidents in New South Wales. Efforts are ongoing to locate a man swept into the ocean near Sydney.
In Victoria, tragedy struck when a woman drowned and a man went missing after their group was caught in the surf at San Remo. Fortunately, one member managed to reach safety.
Feeling the weight of the toll, Victoria's Premier Jacinta Allan expressed heartfelt condolences, referring to the weekend as an "awful start" to the holiday.
Seeking to prevent further losses, Surf Life Saving Australia urged beachgoers to remember the mantra: “Stop, Look, Stay Alive,” stressing the importance of visiting patrolled beaches where swimmers can be safely managed amid dangerous conditions.
