Grenfell student drowns at Fairy Meadow Beach

Friends of a promising University of Wollongong student who drowned in treacherous seas off Fairy Meadow yesterday tried desperately to save their struggling mate, lifeguards say.The Grenfell man, believed to be 22, was pronounced dead by paramedics about 9.15am as his grief-stricken friends watched.Wollongong police Chief Inspector Graeme Donnelly said the young man had left UOW's Campus East and headed to Fairy Meadow Beach for a surf with two friends just after 8am.But, before hitting the waves the men decided to test the conditions, swimming straight into strong rip currents and big seas."In the water, two of the gentlemen got into trouble," Insp Donnelly said."One of them has been able to get himself to safety and ... noticed that his male friend couldn't get out of the water; he's then disappeared."The friend had raised the alarm and police, ambulance and surf lifesaving crews rushed to the scene.Before help could arrive, another group of young friends arrived at the beach for a surf, heard what was going on and entered the water to assist in the search for the man, Insp Donnelly said.The group desperately scanned the water and, after several agonising minutes spotted the man, who had been swept 400m south of the surf club."During the search some young gentlemen have found the young male out the back [of the waves] ... they've done what they can to assist in keeping him alive," Insp Donnelly said.A short time later, Wollongong City Council lifeguards reached the scene by jet ski and brought the unconscious man to shore.Council recreation services manager Mark Bond said lifeguards began CPR and used a defibrillator in an attempt to revive the student, until ambulance paramedics arrived, took over the resuscitation effort and brought in extra personnel by helicopter.However, after more than 40 minutes, the Grenfell man was pronounced dead at the scene.Grief-stricken mates gathered nearby were visibly shaken.Some sat on the sand holding their heads in their hands in disbelief. Others comforted their emotional friends with an embrace or an arm around a slumped shoulder.Insp Donnelly said the young rescuers who risked their own lives to save a mate had done everything they could."The lifeguards here have actually commended the young fellows in the water and we'll be dealing with them through the offer of counselling," he said.Yesterday, a UOW spokesman said the university also would offer counselling to any students or staff affected by the young man's death. He confirmed the man was a second-year student who resided at Campus East.Mr Bond appealed to beach-goers to always swim between the flags, at patrolled beaches.