Marine rescue operations in Sydney have been officially suspended for two individuals who disappeared in separate maritime incidents during the New Year’s celebrations, marking a devastating start to 2024. The series of tragedies began on New Year’s Eve when emergency services responded to Palm Beach following reports of a capsized vessel near Barrenjoey Headland. While Surf Life Saving personnel successfully retrieved a 47-year-old man who subsequently died at the scene, and a helicopter rescue team saved a 45-year-old man who had climbed onto nearby rocks, a 16-year-old passenger remained unaccounted for despite intensive search efforts.
In a separate incident on January 1st, a 22-year-old man encountered difficulties while swimming at Coogee Beach approximately at 6:00 AM. Multiple agencies including NSW Police Marine Area Command, NSW Ambulance, Surf Life Saving NSW, and Randwick City Council conducted comprehensive land and sea searches throughout the day, yet were unable to locate the missing individual.
Authorities have confirmed that both search operations have now been suspended, though the NSW Police Marine Area Command will maintain patrols around Barrenjoey Headland, while Eastern Beaches Police Area Command will continue land surveillance at Coogee until further notice.
These incidents contributed to a tragic toll of three confirmed drowning deaths across NSW beaches during the holiday period. Additional fatalities included a 25-year-old woman discovered at Maroubra Beach and a 45-year-old woman who drowned at Dunbogan Beach near Port Macquarie on the previous Thursday.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce characterized the events as a ‘terrible’ commencement to the new year, noting that statistical trends indicate triple the likelihood of drowning incidents during this period compared to other times throughout the year. The organization had anticipated heightened operational demands based on historical data indicating increased water-related accidents during holiday celebrations.