The Illawarra incident, which claimed the life of a Sydney man aged in his 40s, was one of two rock fishing fatalities nationally over the Easter break, prompting a Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) plea for fishers to make their safety a priority.

A SLSA safety brief, released this week, revealed there were 158 rock fishing drownings across the country in the past 13 years – 95 per cent were males with an average age of 45 years.

Data obtained by the Mercury showed there were 19 rock fishing deaths across the Illawarra and South Coast during the same period – 95 per cent were males and about two thirds (68 per cent) were aged between 40 and 60.

While most of those who drowned were Australian residents, 74 per cent were born in Asia.

Alcohol or drugs did not play a mentionable role, SLSA said.

The data also showed this time of year was a dangerous period for drownings, with 68 per cent of the 19 Illawarra and South Coast deaths occurring during autumn and winter.

SLSA national coastal risk and safety manager Shane Daw said the rock fisherman’s death at Windang last Saturday showed how quickly things could go wrong.

In that incident, the man was swept off rocks about 10pm. He was plucked from the water by a rescue helicopter crew, but died at the scene.

The man was wearing an inflatable life vest, but may not have been able to activate it. Lake Illawarra police are investigating.

The SLSA data showed that of the 158 deaths nationwide, 103 were in NSW. Ninety-nine per cent of all victims were not wearing a personal flotation device or a lifejacket when they drowned.

“That’s an alarming statistic,” Mr Daw said.

“We can’t say that everyone would’ve survived, but the facts are pretty clear.

“If you don’t wear a lifejacket and you are rock fishing and you end up in the water … there’s more likely a chance you’re not going to survive.”