Two British tourists have drowned off the coast of Seventeen Seventy, a popular tourist town at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. A second victim is also fighting for life after being swept out to sea with serious head injuries.
Two British tourists have drowned off the coast of Seventeen Seventy, a popular tourist town at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland. ‘The incident occurred on Sunday while the pair were swimming at a beach without lifeguards.’
Lack of Lifeguard Presence Exacerbates Tragedy
The deceased were declared dead at the scene after being pulled from the water by a police rescue helicopter. An Australian man, 46, was also swept out to sea and is currently in a life-threatening condition with serious head injuries. He was airlifted to hospital from Monto, a town about 150 kilometres inland from Seventeen Seventy.
Investigation Ongoing
Police have confirmed that the drownings were non-suspicious and will prepare a report for the coroner. Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Darren Everard stated that the incident highlighted the importance of seeking local knowledge when swimming in areas with limited lifeguard presence. He encouraged tourists to ‘swim between the flags’ at patrolled beaches.
Fatalities on Australia’s Coastlines
The incident is part of a growing concern about coastal fatalities in Australia. According to Royal Life Saving Australia, 107 people drowned in Australia last year, with 25% of them born overseas. The majority of these incidents occur around creeks and headlands at high tide when the water conditions are chaotic.
