Coroner's urgent warning after tragedy claims lives on a popular Aussie beach–what you need to know
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A recent tragedy at one of Australia’s popular beaches has prompted an urgent call for heightened awareness and safety measures.
What seemed like a routine day by the water turned into a heartbreaking incident that could have been prevented with the right precautions.
As investigations unfold, critical lessons are being shared, sparking important discussions about how we approach beach safety moving forward.
A Victorian coroner has issued a stark warning to beachgoers following a tragic drowning incident that claimed the lives of four family members.
On January 24, Reema Sondhi, 42, Kirti Bedi, 20, and siblings Suhani Anand, 20, and Jagjeet Singh Anand, 23, were tragically caught in a rip current while swimming at Forrest Caves Beach in Newhaven.
The family was on a day trip to Phillip Island from Melbourne when they decided to stop at the beach for lunch.
An impromptu swim turned disastrous when five adults were swept out of the shallows. Only one, Sanjeev Sondhi, managed to make it back to shore.
The three women were pulled from the water by others on the beach, while Mr Anand’s body was later found.
Coroner Sarah Gilbert conducted an investigation into the four deaths and issued a strong reminder for caution this summer.
‘There is no one easy solution to prevent ongoing fatal drownings,’ she said.
‘Education about water awareness and safety is paramount. I implore the Victorian community and visitors to our state to be aware of the risks of Australian beaches and take precaution where needed.’
The fatal accident took place despite clear signage warning that the beach was unpatrolled, with dangerous currents and submerged objects.
However, surviving family members told police they had not noticed the signs as they walked from the car park.
‘It appears that in many cases, including this coronial investigation, clear signage warning of risks alone is inadequate,’ Coroner Gilbert noted.
According to the investigation, nearly half of all unintentional drowning victims in Victorian waterways since July 2014 had been born overseas.
‘Persons born overseas who visit or reside in Australia are unlikely to be familiar with the risks posed by beaches nor how to respond – education we often repeatedly receive as children as part of our early childhood education,’ Gilbert explained.
The victims were all from overseas. Reema Sondhi had been visiting her brother and extended family from India, while Suhani Anand, a nursing student, had arrived in Australia in late 2022.
Kirti Bedi, who was studying a Bachelor of Psychology at Deakin University, was also part of the group.
The coroner acknowledged the efforts of Life Saving Victoria and the Multicultural Engagement Network, who had been working to address the risks to overseas-born beachgoers.
Detective Senior Constable Kane Treloar, in a statement to the investigation, confirmed that the rip current was the primary cause of the drowning.
‘The dark water at the front of the rip would have appeared inviting to those of limited swimming ability,’ Constable Treloar noted.
‘The areas where broken waves were located would actually have been a much safer place to swim as the currents would have pushed any swimmers back towards the shore.’
The evidence showed that each victim had limited or no swimming ability and likely thought the water was safe to enter because it appeared calm.
‘Only an experienced swimmer with experience and understanding of rips would have been able to extricate themselves,’ Treloar added.
Coroner Gilbert has urged beachgoers to use the BeachSafe app, which provides vital information in multiple languages, to make informed decisions.
In a previous story, we reported on a strange and unsettling discovery at another popular beach. Mysterious black spheres were found, prompting the beach’s immediate shutdown.
To learn more about the incident and what it means for beach safety, check out the full article here.
Do you think more needs to be done to educate beachgoers on these hidden dangers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
What seemed like a routine day by the water turned into a heartbreaking incident that could have been prevented with the right precautions.
As investigations unfold, critical lessons are being shared, sparking important discussions about how we approach beach safety moving forward.
A Victorian coroner has issued a stark warning to beachgoers following a tragic drowning incident that claimed the lives of four family members.
On January 24, Reema Sondhi, 42, Kirti Bedi, 20, and siblings Suhani Anand, 20, and Jagjeet Singh Anand, 23, were tragically caught in a rip current while swimming at Forrest Caves Beach in Newhaven.
The family was on a day trip to Phillip Island from Melbourne when they decided to stop at the beach for lunch.
An impromptu swim turned disastrous when five adults were swept out of the shallows. Only one, Sanjeev Sondhi, managed to make it back to shore.
The three women were pulled from the water by others on the beach, while Mr Anand’s body was later found.
Coroner Sarah Gilbert conducted an investigation into the four deaths and issued a strong reminder for caution this summer.
‘There is no one easy solution to prevent ongoing fatal drownings,’ she said.
‘Education about water awareness and safety is paramount. I implore the Victorian community and visitors to our state to be aware of the risks of Australian beaches and take precaution where needed.’
The fatal accident took place despite clear signage warning that the beach was unpatrolled, with dangerous currents and submerged objects.
However, surviving family members told police they had not noticed the signs as they walked from the car park.
‘It appears that in many cases, including this coronial investigation, clear signage warning of risks alone is inadequate,’ Coroner Gilbert noted.
According to the investigation, nearly half of all unintentional drowning victims in Victorian waterways since July 2014 had been born overseas.
‘Persons born overseas who visit or reside in Australia are unlikely to be familiar with the risks posed by beaches nor how to respond – education we often repeatedly receive as children as part of our early childhood education,’ Gilbert explained.
The victims were all from overseas. Reema Sondhi had been visiting her brother and extended family from India, while Suhani Anand, a nursing student, had arrived in Australia in late 2022.
Kirti Bedi, who was studying a Bachelor of Psychology at Deakin University, was also part of the group.
The coroner acknowledged the efforts of Life Saving Victoria and the Multicultural Engagement Network, who had been working to address the risks to overseas-born beachgoers.
Detective Senior Constable Kane Treloar, in a statement to the investigation, confirmed that the rip current was the primary cause of the drowning.
‘The dark water at the front of the rip would have appeared inviting to those of limited swimming ability,’ Constable Treloar noted.
‘The areas where broken waves were located would actually have been a much safer place to swim as the currents would have pushed any swimmers back towards the shore.’
The evidence showed that each victim had limited or no swimming ability and likely thought the water was safe to enter because it appeared calm.
‘Only an experienced swimmer with experience and understanding of rips would have been able to extricate themselves,’ Treloar added.
Coroner Gilbert has urged beachgoers to use the BeachSafe app, which provides vital information in multiple languages, to make informed decisions.
In a previous story, we reported on a strange and unsettling discovery at another popular beach. Mysterious black spheres were found, prompting the beach’s immediate shutdown.
To learn more about the incident and what it means for beach safety, check out the full article here.
Do you think more needs to be done to educate beachgoers on these hidden dangers? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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