Two men dead after three fisherman swept into the ocean at popular NSW fishing spot
Two men have died after three fishermen were swept into the ocean at a popular fishing spot at Port Kembla, NSW this evening.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene following reports the group were washed off the rocks at Hill 60 just before 7pm today.
Two men were pulled from the water after a Highway Patrol officer and member of the public entered the water with a flotation device in an attempt to save them, but it took local surf lifesaving crews to retrieve them from the water.
Despite CPR being performed, one of the men died at the scene. He’s been identified as a 30-year-old man from Lakemba, in Sydney’s west.
A second man, who is yet to be identified, died later in hospital after being winched from the sea and taken to Wollongong Hospital in a critical condition.
The third man, a 42-year-old from Wiley Park, was not injured.
Ten ambulance crews attended with paramedics treating a total of seven patients at the scene, including two police officers who suffered minor injuries and are being assessed at Wollongong Hospital.
“No words can describe the chaotic scene that paramedic crew and other first responders we were faced with this evening,” Inspector Norm Rees, NSW Ambulance said.
“Surf living saving, bystanders and the Toll Ambulance Rescue Helicopter went above and beyond in the assistant of retrieving patients from the water and also helping paramedics with CPR.”
Three weeks ago, another three men drowned in the same spot after being swept off the rocks and into the ocean at night.
“It was absolutely heartbreaking to respond to a scene where previous lives have been lost despite the warnings,” Inspector Rees said.
The rock platform is the same location another three men died in January after they were also swept into the sea while fishing.
