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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/sep/11/man-drowns-at-wollongong-beach-while-helping-father-save-children-from-rip
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man drowns at Wollongong beach while helping father save children from rip | Man drowns at Wollongong beach while helping father save children from rip |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| A Victorian father who drowned trying to help another dad save his four kids from rough surf at an unpatrolled Wollongong beach is being hailed a hero. | A Victorian father who drowned trying to help another dad save his four kids from rough surf at an unpatrolled Wollongong beach is being hailed a hero. |
| The 32-year-old Victorian father of three was visiting New South Wales on business when he raced into the treacherous water on Sunday afternoon after noticing the children struggling. | The 32-year-old Victorian father of three was visiting New South Wales on business when he raced into the treacherous water on Sunday afternoon after noticing the children struggling. |
| “It was a heroic act but it has unfortunately cost him his life,” Det Insp Brad Ainsworth from Wollongong local area command told reporters on Monday. “I believe he was just walking along the beach and he has just acted.” | “It was a heroic act but it has unfortunately cost him his life,” Det Insp Brad Ainsworth from Wollongong local area command told reporters on Monday. “I believe he was just walking along the beach and he has just acted.” |
| The Wollongong father of the children had managed to get his two younger children to shore but the two older children, aged 10 and 12, got dragged further out in a rip. | The Wollongong father of the children had managed to get his two younger children to shore but the two older children, aged 10 and 12, got dragged further out in a rip. |
| An off-duty paramedic, who was at the beach with his wife, pulled the 10-year-old boy to shore while the Victorian man reached the older boy. But the 32-year-old got into trouble himself. | An off-duty paramedic, who was at the beach with his wife, pulled the 10-year-old boy to shore while the Victorian man reached the older boy. But the 32-year-old got into trouble himself. |
| A surfer reached the pair and got the 12-year-old boy towards shore, but the man was swept out to sea. “There were remarkable acts of bravery all around,” Ainsworth said. | A surfer reached the pair and got the 12-year-old boy towards shore, but the man was swept out to sea. “There were remarkable acts of bravery all around,” Ainsworth said. |
| Three police officers swam out to reach the Victorian man and pulled him from the water. He was given CPR on the beach but died in hospital. | Three police officers swam out to reach the Victorian man and pulled him from the water. He was given CPR on the beach but died in hospital. |
| Ainsworth said no one should have been swimming at the closed beach which was unpatrolled at the time. “But it [the message] doesn’t get through.” | Ainsworth said no one should have been swimming at the closed beach which was unpatrolled at the time. “But it [the message] doesn’t get through.” |
| “There was a heavy surf, a drag, an undercurrent, it was just all the conditions there that you don’t go in,” he said. “You have got ticks against everything why you shouldn’t be on the water or near the water and they have entered the water and it has resulted in the death of a hero.” | “There was a heavy surf, a drag, an undercurrent, it was just all the conditions there that you don’t go in,” he said. “You have got ticks against everything why you shouldn’t be on the water or near the water and they have entered the water and it has resulted in the death of a hero.” |
| A hazardous surf warming remains in places for beaches in the area. | A hazardous surf warming remains in places for beaches in the area. |
| “It might look picturesque and tame but there is quite a strong undercurrent and tow,” a Surf Life Saving spokesman said, adding inexperienced swimmers should not be in the water. | “It might look picturesque and tame but there is quite a strong undercurrent and tow,” a Surf Life Saving spokesman said, adding inexperienced swimmers should not be in the water. |
| Ainsworth said the tragedy had cut the community “pretty deep”. | Ainsworth said the tragedy had cut the community “pretty deep”. |
| “If anyone goes to the surf or the beach and the joys the outdoors, I think there is one strong message. No flags no swim.” | “If anyone goes to the surf or the beach and the joys the outdoors, I think there is one strong message. No flags no swim.” |
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