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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/feb/12/girl-drowns-trying-to-save-younger-brother-from-rough-surf-in-victoria
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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Girl drowns trying to save younger brother from rough surf in Victoria | Girl drowns trying to save younger brother from rough surf in Victoria |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A 13-year-old has died trying to save her younger brother from rough surf on a Victorian beach. | A 13-year-old has died trying to save her younger brother from rough surf on a Victorian beach. |
| The girl and her 11-year-old brother were swimming at Williamsons beach near Wonthaggi when the boy got into trouble about 8pm on Thursday. | The girl and her 11-year-old brother were swimming at Williamsons beach near Wonthaggi when the boy got into trouble about 8pm on Thursday. |
| The girl and her father ran into the surf to help him, pulling him from the water with only minor injuries, police say. | The girl and her father ran into the surf to help him, pulling him from the water with only minor injuries, police say. |
| But the girl then got into trouble and was pulled unresponsive from the water. The beach was unpatrolled. | |
| The family, police and paramedics tried to revive her for more than hour but she died on the sand. | The family, police and paramedics tried to revive her for more than hour but she died on the sand. |
| Police are preparing a report for the coroner. | Police are preparing a report for the coroner. |
| The boy was taken to the Monash medical centre with minor injuries. | The boy was taken to the Monash medical centre with minor injuries. |
| Williamsons Beach is a popular surf beach for locals, but is known for its dangerous rips and rough waves. | Williamsons Beach is a popular surf beach for locals, but is known for its dangerous rips and rough waves. |
| Beachsafe Victoria says the area is dominated by sandy beaches but broken by numerous rocks and reefs. | Beachsafe Victoria says the area is dominated by sandy beaches but broken by numerous rocks and reefs. |
| “There are usually at least 40 rips along the six beaches,” the Beachsafe website says. | “There are usually at least 40 rips along the six beaches,” the Beachsafe website says. |
| Wonthaggi police Sergeant Glenn Birt told Fairfax Media the teenager’s death would “have a huge impact on the community”. | |
| The beach was mainly a surfing and fishing spot, he said. | |
| “Locals do swim in the shallows, but there is a strong undertow.” | |
| Life Saving Victoria spokesman, Paul Shannon, told radio 3AW that the beach was a dangerous one. | |
| “But all waterways are essentially dangerous,” he said. | |
| “Our hearts go out to that poor family. Not all beaches are patrolled and nor are they patrolled early in the morning or late in the evenings.” | |
| He said it was unrealistic to expect that people never swim at an unpatrolled beach. | |
| “What this is all about is assessing your own risk profile and your ability to go to the beach,” he said. | |
| “You need to assess your own risk profile in going to that beach.” |