Two British holidaymakers have tragically drowned off the coast of Seventeen Seventy, a popular tourist spot at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia.
The victims — a 17-year-old boy and a 46-year-old man — were swept out to sea on Sunday while swimming at an unpatrolled beach. Despite a swift response, including a police rescue helicopter, both were pulled from the water and declared dead at the scene.
A third swimmer, an Australian man from Monto — located around 150 kilometres inland — remains in a critical condition.
He sustained serious head injuries and was airlifted to the hospital in a life-threatening state. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether he entered the water in an attempt to rescue the British pair.
The names of the deceased have not yet been released, but Queensland Police confirmed they were UK nationals.
Emergency rescue service CapRescue, which responded to the incident, described Sunday’s operation as “a difficult mission,” noting that the tragic outcome came “despite the best efforts of all involved.”
Surf Life Saving Queensland’s Darren Everard told ABC News that only one beach within a 50-kilometre radius of Seventeen Seventy is patrolled by lifeguards. He emphasised the dangers of swimming in unsupervised areas and urged visitors to familiarise themselves with local safety guidance.
“Most coastal fatalities occur around creeks and headlands, especially at high tide, when it becomes chaos in the water,” Everard explained. “We always advise tourists to seek local knowledge and swim between the flags.”
Police have ruled out any suspicious circumstances and are preparing a report for the coroner.
According to figures from Royal Life Saving Australia, 107 people drowned across the country last year, with a quarter of those victims born overseas.
