A man has drowned at a popular New South Wales beach, becoming the second person to die along the state's coastline in the opening days of 2026.
Tragedy at a remote bay
The man, believed to be in his 50s, was pulled unconscious from the water at Lobster Bay on the Beecroft Peninsula around 12.40pm on Friday. The location is approximately 200 kilometres south of Sydney and is only accessible by foot, popular with swimmers and snorkellers.
Emergency services rushed to the area following a welfare concern report. NSW Police were first on scene, finding the man on the shore after bystanders had retrieved him from the ocean. Despite efforts by paramedics to treat him, the man was declared dead at the location.
A deadly start to the new year
This incident follows another drowning just days earlier. On New Year's Day, a 45-year-old woman was pulled from the water at Dunbogan Beach, 38km south of Port Macquarie. Paramedics and police performed CPR but were unable to revive her.
Police have declared a crime scene at Lobster Bay as they investigate the circumstances of the man's death. A report will be prepared for the coroner in both cases.
Acting Inspector Teneille Keith linked the tragedies to hazardous summer conditions. "While we have welcomed a beautiful summer, it is also the peak season for drowning incidents," she stated. "Please stay alert to the weather conditions and decide whether you should go into the water. Severe weather conditions are a big challenge even for experienced divers."
A recent history of coastal danger
The recent deaths continue a worrying pattern of coastal tragedies in NSW. Late in 2024, 18-year-old private school student Astin Gerstl vanished during an early morning swim at Little Bay Beach during Schoolies week. He was seen struggling in a rip current before disappearing. His remains were found five days later.
That incident followed the drowning of a 59-year-old man near Crescent Head on the Mid North Coast just days before.
Authorities urge the public to exercise extreme caution, emphasising that strong currents and changing conditions can turn a day at the beach deadly in an instant.
