An off-duty NSW police officer has drowned in a rip after saving his 14-year-old son who got stuck in the current at an unpatrolled beach on the south coast.
Emergency services were called after the 45-year-old became caught in a rip at Bogola Beach, south of Narooma, at about 1.30 pm on New Year’s Day.
When lifesavers arrived at the scene, onlookers told them the man went into the ocean to rescue the 14-year-old, but after saving the teen, he disappeared underwater.
A helicopter sent from Moruya spotted the man who was pulled from the rip by lifesavers, but paramedics couldn’t revive him and he died at the scene.
NSW Police confirmed the man who died was an off-duty officer, and local police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Acting Inspector Paul Hoyer said the officer’s death was a tragedy that “that will cut through to his family, friends and workmates”.
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“It’s devastating at this time of the year when obviously with the recency of the two deaths in Queensland – it just brings home how dangerous policing is,” he told reporters on Monday.
“From what I understand, he was able to push his son out of the rip. He was then taken out to sea further in the rip and that obviously will form part of our investigation as we prepare a brief.”
Acting Inspector Hoyer reiterated police and surf lifesavers’ advice to swim between the flags at a patrolled beach.
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