Fourteen NSW water deaths since Xmas day

The number of NSW water deaths since Christmas Day has reached 14.

Maroubra beach

A lifeguard watches people in the ocean at Maroubra beach in Sydney as the number of people who have lost their lives in water related incidents rises to 14. Source: AAP

The deaths of three men and the discovery of two bodies has taken the number NSW water fatalities since Christmas Day to 14.

A 27-year-old Pakistani man, who had reportedly been living in Canberra, died after he was pulled from Mermaid Pools in Sydney's southwestern outskirts on Friday afternoon.

The death came a few hours after a 46-year-old died after he was pulled unresponsive from water at Yamba in northern NSW about 2pm.

The death of an elderly man pulled from Lady Robinsons Beach in Sydney's south was confirmed by police before 8pm.



Meanwhile, an agonising wait for the family of 14-year-old Tui Gallaher came to an end at Sydney's crowded Maroubra beach, where a body believed to be the teenager's was recovered by emergency services.

Tui went missing while swimming with his cousin about 8.30pm on Thursday.

"Don't worry he's resting is God's arms right now. Love you, Aunty," Katrina Fonuku Tamano Gallaher posted on Facebook.

"Truly sorry to hear of your tragedy but he is resting in God's arms now at peace and the love people have for such a beautiful gentle young man will shine brightly," Billie Jean said.

Further south, a body has been found in the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga, where a man disappered on Wednesday.

The number of NSW water deaths is now more than double the state's road toll since Christmas Day.

On Thursday, a Sydney family lost a second toddler twin within days.

The 23-month old girl and boy were pulled unsconscious from a Kellville Ridge pool on December 20.

The little girl died on Boxing Day, while the boy died on Thursday.

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Published 30 December 2016 8:24pm
Updated 30 December 2016 9:08pm
Source: AAP


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