The tragic drowning of a 58-year-old Sydney fisherman in the early hours of Good Friday has sparked calls for an urgent review of safety along the breakwall.
As reported by The Illawarra Flame a fortnight ago, the breakwall is in a poor state of repair, with two large sections of the rusting safety fence falling into the water.
It was through one of those gaps in the fence that the Sydney fisherman was washed into the water by a wave just before sunrise yesterday as huge seas pounded the wall.
Onlookers said a second man, believed to be the son of the fisherman, jumped into the water to try to save him. He was unable to be revived.
"It's just tragic," said Sylvester Ho, from Earlwood, who has been a fishing regularly on the breakwall for the past six weeks.
"It's a big safety issue. If this fencing was fixed, he probably wouldn't have gone over."
Safety audit required
Sylvester said the popular fishing spot required a thorough safety audit to protect the lives of those who use it.
Three years ago a Balgownie man drowned in similar circumstances when he was washed through a gap in the fence.
"There need to be angel rings [life buoys] right along this breakwall and this rusting fencing needs to be replaced with stainless steel."
Greg Simeon, who was back on the breakwall fishing just 24 hours after the tragedy, said people had been asking for safety improvements for a long time.
'Can't keep putting it off'
"They can't keep putting it off. You must be deaf, dumb and blind not to know about this," Greg said.
Transport for NSW Maritime manages the breakwall and a spokesman confirmed there would be an urgent review, including the condition of the fencing.
In an attempt to prevent a repeat of the Good Friday drowning, the breakwall has been closed to the public but that didn't prevent keen fishermen from accessing the area, despite the continuing forecast of powerful surf conditions and hazardous seas. Children were also happy to get a soaking as the large waves smashed into the wall.
At this time police haven't released the name of the fisherman and they are preparing a report for the Coroner.
