Two British tourists drown near the Great Barrier Reef
These people drowned off the coast of a tourist town at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
A 17-year-old boy and a 46-year-old man were swept out to sea on Sunday while swimming without lifeguards at a beach in Seventeen Seventy, a town in Queensland, Australia. Additionally, an Australian man found at the same location was also swept out to sea and is in life-threatening condition.
The two victims were revealed to be of British origin and were pronounced dead after a police sea rescue helicopter. The Australian man, who suffered serious head injuries, was airlifted to hospital.
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Authorities' Action
The emergency rescue service (CapRescue) stated on social media that the rescue mission for the three people was difficult. The agency also indicated that the deaths occurred despite the rescuers' best efforts.
Police stated that the injured Australian man is from Monto, a town near Seventeen Seventy. Darren Everard of Surf Life Saving Queensland also told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that it is unknown whether this third person jumped into the water in an attempt to rescue him.
Reality on Australian Beaches
Deaths on Australian coasts mostly occur in creeks and headlands at high tides. According to Royal Life Saving Australia, 107 people have drowned in Australia.
This problem is affecting local bathers and tourists who come to swim. Residents of Seventeen Seventy want the situation under control, as there is only one lifeguard-supervised beach within a 50-kilometer radius of the entire city.