Angourie, Byron drownings continue horrific trend

By Tim Howard

The drowning of Sydney teenager who disappeared after plunging into the Green Pool at Angourie on January 14, is part of a trend of drownings in NSW and Australia this summer.

The teen’s death began a tragic week on the NSW coast with a woman drowning at Shelly Beach, in Sydney a few days later and a man in his 20s drowned at Tallow Beach, Byron Bay the following day.

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The number of drownings in Australia since December 1 has topped 50 for the first time in a number of years, horrifying Surf Life Saving Australia officials.

The death at Angourie was the 49th in the period from December 1 to January 14 and with at least three more deaths recorded in the ensuing week.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steve Pearce said the two beach drownings were a warning to all potential beachgoers.

“Every coastal drowning is a tragedy, but to have two in such a short space of time is a tough reflection on how risky it can be to enter the water,” he said.

“Once again, both of these drownings have occurred at unpatrolled locations and we really must reiterate that if you plan to visit the coastline, the safest thing you can do is head to a beach where you see the red and yellow flags flying.”

Clarence Valley mayor Peter Johnstone said the region was saddened at the news of the teen’s death.

“The Clarence Valley has been deeply saddened by news of the tragic loss of life of a Sydney teenager at Angourie on Sunday,” he said in a press release.

“Although no words can soften the blow of such a loss, I wish to offer sincere condolences to the family and friends of the young man, on behalf of myself and the Clarence Valley community.

“Clarence Valley Council will continue to work with authorities on any inquiries relating to the incident.”

The death at Angourie occurred after the teen, believed to be on holiday in the area from Sydney, jumped from a rock ledge into the water at about 3pm on January 14.

He was not seen after that, sparking an intensive search involving police divers, surf life savers and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter.

Searchers found his body around 10pm the same day.

Police have not released his identity and they are preparing a report for the Coroner on the incident.

The Green Pool at Angourie was the site of the drowning of a Sydney teenager on January 14. He jumped from a rock ledge and disappeared. Searchers found his body later that night.

While drownings at Angourie’s green and blue pools were not common, locals have been worried about the behaviour of people visiting the pools.

In 2008 Angourie resident Grant Dwyer was interviewed in mid-January after a 17-year-old was injured plunging down an eight-metre ledge at the green pool.

Mr Dwyer said he was concerned that something was about to go horribly wrong when he saw kids climbing and jumping from spots he had not seen used in the past 30 years.

“I’ve never seen anything like it. There were literally kids on every part of the cliff face,” he said at the time.

“I knew someone was going to get hurt. Kids were doing backflips without checking the depth of the water to see if it was safe.”

But serious problems have been rare with the only recent death in the pools occurring when the body of a 62-yer-old Yamba woman was found in the Blue Pool in 2008.

Clarence Valley Council has clearly signposted the area, which is close to the beach at Angourie.

“For the safety of all users of this beach, please observe the following warnings, regulations, and information symbols; large waves, strong currents, shallow water, sharks, steep walking track, slippery rocks, cliff edge/drop off, and deep water.

“This beach is unpatrolled, and users should be aware of prevailing dangerous beach conditions,”

“Persons swimming at this beach do so at their own risk.”

In addition the council monitors the water quality in the pools, which contain fresh water, for algal blooms.

In the past 20 years the council has closed the pools to swimmers a number of times because of poisonous algae growing in the water.

When the pools are closed, people can swim in the large saltwater rock pool beside the Blue Pool.

The two pools are man-made, although creating a spot destined to become the scene of rites of passage for the many of the region’s youth, was not something the makers had in mind.

In the 1890s the site was quarried for the massive stone blocks that made up the rock walls at Yamba.

Trains carried the stone to the site of the rock walls until the workers cracked open a fresh-water spring.

Within days the quarries filled with fresh water, halting work and trapping the quarry machinery below the rising water is still there.

Locals reported there were times when the machinery was still visible.

For more local Clarence Valley news, click here.