Two British tourists have lost their lives after drowning off the coast of Seventeen Seventy, a popular tourist destination at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. The tragic incident occurred on Sunday while they were swimming at a beach known for its lack of lifeguards. The deceased, a 17-year-old boy and a 46-year-old man, were reportedly swept out to sea and were declared dead at the scene after being retrieved by a police rescue helicopter.
In a related incident, an Australian man, who was also swept out while attempting to save the pair, is currently hospitalized with life-threatening injuries sustained from head trauma. His identity has not been disclosed, but he is said to be from Monto, a town located around 150 kilometers inland from Seventeen Seventy.
CapRescue, the emergency service involved in the recovery operation, described the mission as challenging and expressed their condolences on social media, stating the heartbreaking outcomes occurred "despite the best efforts of all involved."
Authorities confirmed the drownings are being treated as non-suspicious, with a report on the incident being prepared for the coroner. Surf Life Saving Queensland's Darren Everard noted the importance of adhering to local safety guidelines, indicating that a single patrolled beach exists within a 50-kilometer radius of the incident location.
Statistics from Royal Life Saving Australia indicate that in the past year, 107 individuals drowned in Australia, with 25% of these fatalities involving individuals born overseas. The majority of such drownings take place in challenging coastal conditions, often during high tides, which can make swimming dangerously chaotic. Everard urged tourists to seek local knowledge and to swim within designated safety areas.
