Emergency services have suspended separate searches for a teenage boy and a male swimmer in waters off Sydney, following a deadly New Year period on Australian beaches. On Sunday, New South Wales police announced the suspension of search and rescue operations for a 16-year-old boy who was a passenger in a boat that capsized off Palm Beach on New Year's Eve. A 47-year-old man died in that incident.
A separate search for a 22-year-old man, identified as Sushan Khadka, who has been missing since being seen in trouble at Coogee beach on New Year's Day, was also suspended. Police said they have been unable to find him despite extensive land and water-based searches. Coogee Surf Life Saving Club president Ben Heenan said several swimmers had been swept off their feet by a rip due to large surf, with three making it back to shore but one unable to return.
Sunday's announcement follows the deaths of six people at beaches across Australia during the New Year period. On Saturday, a 34-year-old man drowned at Green Patch beach in Jervis Bay, NSW. On Friday, a man believed to be in his 50s was pulled from the water at Lobster Bay beach in Shoalhaven and died at the scene. On New Year's Day, a 25-year-old woman was found dead at Maroubra beach, and a 45-year-old woman, Melissa Austin, died at Dunbogan beach near Port Macquarie. On New Year's Eve, a 35-year-old Irish man died at Whitehaven beach in Queensland.
In the Palm Beach incident, a 47-year-old man died after a boat capsized near Barrenjoey Headland. A 45-year-old man was rescued by helicopter and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. A four-day search for the 16-year-old boy has now been suspended. Meanwhile, a search for a 32-year-old man missing while snorkelling off Ledge Point beach in Western Australia has been scaled back. Royal Lifesaving Australia reported the national summer drowning toll had reached 29 by Saturday.
