Overview
- Off Sydney’s Palm Beach, a small boat flipped near Barrenjoey Headland late Wednesday morning, and a man pulled from the water died at the scene; he has not been formally identified.
- A second man reached nearby rocks and was winched to safety, with NSW Ambulance transporting him to Royal North Shore Hospital in stable condition.
- A multi-agency operation involving Marine Area Command, PolAir, Marine Rescue NSW and Surf Life Saving is searching for a 14-year-old believed to have been aboard, with large swell reducing water visibility.
- Separate incidents included a 25-year-old woman found dead at Maroubra and a 35-year-old Irish tourist who drowned at Whitehaven Beach, while the search for a swimmer in his 20s at Coogee was hampered and temporarily paused on Thursday.
- Surf Life Saving reported heavy rescue activity over the holiday period, and officials issued hazardous-surf warnings urging people to avoid surf‑exposed areas, check conditions and wear life jackets.