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A snorkeler has died after he was pulled unconscious from waters near Kiama Blowhole.
The 33-year-old man’s companions have told police he panicked and tried to get out of the sea quickly, after a strong current threatened to push him into the blowhole about 12.20pm Monday.
His legs were scratched in his efforts to climb the near-sheer rock face, before he fell back into the water.
Authorities believe he suffered a heart attack as a result of overexertion.
“Apparently there was a strong current sweeping around and possibly even pushing them inside the blowhole,” Lake Illawarra Police District's Sergeant Grant Hughes said.
“He was getting a bit scared and trying to climb out. That’s when we believe he had the heart attack.”
The man was visiting the area from Sydney, according to police and paramedics.
Kiama council’s head lifeguard Andy Mole said the emergency occurred in moderate conditions of light swell and north-easterly winds, with the water “a little bit choppy”.
Council’s senior lifeguard, Craig Bowley, began CPR while still on the water.
“[He] did an amazing job … retrieving the gentleman up onto the sled in pretty challenging conditions off the blowhole, and commenced CPR on the sled,” Mr Mole said. “[They] then waited for the air ambulance to come across, probably within five or six minutes of the incident.”
The man was winched onto a Toll Rescue helicopter and brought to land.
Paramedics continued resuscitation efforts on shore, however the man was pronounced dead a short time later, said NSW Ambulance’s Acting Inspector Robert Kembrey.
The man was snorkeling with three companions near the blowhole.
All four were brought ashore by emergency services; the survivors later traveled to Lake Illawarra Police Station to provide statements.
Police have been told the deceased man was not a strong swimmer.
The tragedy, one of two water-related deaths on Monday, has prompted warnings from emergency services, urging swimmers to know their limitations in the sea and stick to waterways that are patrolled or that they are familiar with.
“It's really dangerous to swim in some of these rocky areas where the water's unpredictable,” Insp Kembrey said.
Early reporting of the emergency carried some conflicting information. The Mercury understands there were reports that the snorkelers were scuba divers who had swum from Bushrangers Bay – a distance of about 10kms. This is untrue, however the group had earlier visited this location.
Earlier:
A snorkeler has died after he was pulled unconscious from the water near Kiama Blowhole a short time ago.
NSW ambulance paramedics received reports about 12.25pm of two people "stuck in the blowhole".
Kiama council’s head lifeguard Andy Mole said lifeguards responded immediately via jetski.
“The operator of the jetski did an amazing job … retrieving the gentleman up onto the sled in pretty challenging conditions off the blowhole, and commenced CPR on the sled,” Mr Mole said.
“[They] then waited for the air ambulance to come across.”
The man was winched onto a Toll Rescue helicopter and brought to land.
Paramedics continued to treat the man, who suffered a cardiac arrest, however NSW Ambulance’s Acting Inspector Robert Kembrey confirmed the man was pronounced dead a short time later.
It’s understood the man was snorkeling with three companions near the blowhole. All four needed to be rescued. The man who died is believed to have been visiting the area from Sydney.
There are conflicting reports as to the whether he is aged 26 or 33 years.
Police have been told the deceased man was not a strong swimmer.
Lake Illawarra Police District's Sergeant Grant Hughes said: "he's got into trouble in the current; he's tried to get out and he's had some kind of medical episode".
The man's companions are at Lake Illawarra Police Station, providing statements.
Meantime, emergency services are urging swimmers to obey the directions of authorities and stick to waterways they are familiar with.
"I'm not exactly sure what difficulties they (the snorkelers) ran into out there," Insp Kembrey said.
"It's really dangerous to swim in some of these rocky areas where the water's unpredictable."
The Mercury understands reports that the snorkelers were scuba divers who had swum from Bushrangers Bay – a distance of about 10kms – are incorrect, but that that the group had earlier visited this location.
Update, 4.30pm: The man’s snorkeling companions have told police he panicked and tried to get out of the water after a strong current threatened their safety.
“Apparently there was a strong current sweeping around and possibly even pushing them inside the blowhole,” Lake Illawarra Police District's Sergeant Grant Hughes said.
“He was getting a bit scared and trying to climb out. That’s when we believe he had the heart attack.”
The man’s legs were scratched in his efforts to climb the near-sheer rock face. He fell back into the water with his companions, who raised the alarm.
The man was aged 33, according to police and paramedics.