PARAMEDICS unsuccessfully attempted to revive a 54-year-old Canberra man after he was swept off rocks into rough seas at South Durras on August 30, 2015.
They worked on the man for 25 minutes before he was pronounced dead.
Police and emergency services personnel were called to Dark Beach at 1.30pm on Sunday and the Westpac Life Saver Helicopter found the man, who was not wearing a life jacket, a short distance from the shore at 2.10pm.
The man had been fishing with two friends when he was swept off rocks by a large wave.
A Batemans Bay Surf Life Saving Club crew on board a jet ski picked up the man about 50 metres offshore and took him to the beach.
“We then winched our rescue crewman onto the beach with a medical and resuscitation kit,” Westpac rescue helicopter CEO Stephen Leahy said.
“Our rescue crewman and paramedics commenced cardio-pulmonary resuscitation on the scene.
“Because of the inaccessibility, the male was winched back on board the helicopter and flown to a car park at South Durras, were there was an ambulance waiting.”
Mr Leahy said the man was the only person washed into the water, despite initial reports that two people were in the water.
Batemans Bay Surf Life Saving Club member Anthony Bellette, who was at the scene of the tragedy, said fishers should be prepared and “go at the right time”.
“Everyone needs to be aware that when there are dangerous warnings out there, people need to take note,” he said.
“Take the appropriate action by wearing a life jacket and making sure you have people with you at all times, and don’t go swimming alone.
“Life jackets are really important.
“If you do happen to end up in the water and you have a life jacket on, your chances of being rescued are a lot higher and it makes it a lot easier for you to be seen.”
The man is yet to be formally identified.
