Al-anwar Newspaper English news in Australia
A man’s body was recovered from the water at a popular rockpool on the Coffs Coast this morning.
Just before 7 o’clock, emergency services were called to the Sawtell Memorial Rock Pool following reports of a body being located.
A man’s body was recovered from the water. Caspian O’Donnell, a surf instructor, said the tragic incident highlights the fact that people “should never surf or swim alone”.
“A lot of people don’t understand the dangers of being in there alone,” Mr O’Donnell said.
Bruce Wright said he’s swum at the headland almost every morning for the past 27 years.
“It’s a shock. It’s very sad for the family and made me think about my loved ones,” Mr Wright said. Some community members say the man may have been going for an early morning swim when he suffered a medical episode. Paul Holman said he has been coming to the headland for 35 years and had seen kids caught out by rips recently. Although the man’s death is not being treated as suspicious, Mr Holman said it’s a reminder to pay close attention to warnings.
“Surfers had to come and rescue a few teenagers here two days ago,” Mr Holman said.
Mr Holman said people should respect life savers and beach warnings. “It’s an insult to life savers when people flout the rules to people who are trying to keep you alive,” he said.
The man is yet to be formally identified but he is believed to be aged in his 50s. Officers from Coffs Clarence Police District began an investigation and will prepare a report for the Coroner.
The pool fronts the Pacific Ocean and is built into the rocks at the foot of the Bonville Headland, adjacent to Bonville Creek.
