A man has drowned near the Murray Mouth in South Australia after being swept off a sandbar while fishing.
Key points:
- A father and son were swept off a sandbar while fishing
- A witness said the father jumped into the water to save his son
- He died while the son survived
His 16-year-old son managed to swim to shore and was taken to hospital.
Police were called to Sugars Beach on Hindmarsh Island, near Goolwa, about 8:40am after reports the 50-year-old man and his son were missing in the water.
The man was later found unconscious in the water by the state rescue helicopter.
He was brought to shore by a surf lifesaver but could not be revived.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
A witness said the boy fell in first and the father jumped in after him.
“I’d do the same … It’s your child,” a separate fisherman, Peter Cuconits, said.
“I’m not sure whether he realised how dangerous it was.
“We’ve had a few rougher days — there’s a big swell running — so, yeah, the rips are really strong.”
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