The tragic drowning on Good Friday of a fisherman swept to his death by a huge wave at the entry to Wollongong Harbour has prompted calls for safety fencing to be repaired and improved education of those who fish in the area.
Shortly before sunrise at the start of the Easter long weekend, a 58-year-old Sydney man was washed off the harbour sea wall through one of two large gaps in the safety fence.
A family member, believed to be the man's son, leapt into the water to try to save him, however, he couldn't be revived.
The tragedy occurred in the same location that a Balgownie fisherman drowned when swept into the water in July 2022.
Six deaths this long weekend
The Wollongong Harbour drowning was the first of at least six deaths, with two more people missing, after huge seas battered the NSW coast this long weekend.
Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce said this weekend had been "absolutely horrific" and "the worst Easter drowning toll that we have ever seen in NSW on record".
Fishermen who use the harbour breakwall told The Illawarra Flame the drowning on Good Friday could have been prevented if the damaged safety fencing had been repaired. The nearest life buoy is located about 100 metres from the popular fishing spot. Those who use the area say that's too far away in an emergency when every second counts.
Wollongong Greens Councillor Kit Docker fears more lives will be lost if steps aren't taken to improve safety and education.
"The drowning at the breakwall on Good Friday is a heartbreaking tragedy that highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive safety audit," Cr Docker said. "It's essential we identify any gaps or missed opportunities to better protect recreational users and prevent future incidents.
Current fencing is not safe
"In terms of opportunities to improve safety, the current state of the fencing clearly shows that it has deteriorated to a point that it no longer provides the level of safety that it was installed to provide. The relevant government bodies could also explore immediately installing life buoys along the breakwall to assist with rescues."
Cr Docker says there's also a need to educate people who choose to fish off the breakwall during hazardous seas that they are putting their lives at risk.
"In addition to physical safety measures like fencing, there's also a real need for increased investment in community education programs – particularly those that are accessible to all, including Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities. Everyone should have the information and support they need to make safe, informed choices for themselves and their families."
On the final day of the Easter long weekend, Cr Docker has urged everyone heading to the coast, to fish and swim, to take extra care to prevent any more tragic loss of life.
There's a shared responsibility
"As a coastal city, spending time by the ocean is deeply embedded in our way of life," Cr Docker said. "With that comes a shared responsibility – across government bodies, local authorities, and the fishing community – to prioritise safety and ensure everyone can enjoy our coastline with confidence."
While additional fencing has been put in place to discourage people from fishing at the end of the breakwall, at sunrise on Easter Monday dozens of people had returned to use the popular fishing spot.
A spokesman for Transport for NSW Maritime said an urgent review would be conducted into Friday's drowning and NSW Police are preparing a report for the coroner.
