A man has drowned in a river on the NSW south coast, adding to the nation’s grim holiday death toll.
The man was reported to be “struggling in rough water” in the Yowaka River at Nethercote, about 8km from Eden, about 3pm on Thursday.
He was pulled from the water and paramedics attempted to revive the 53-year-old, but he died at the scene.
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A report will be prepared for the coroner.
The tragedy is the latest in a surge of drowning deaths, prompting a water safety warning from authorities.
More than 40 people have drowned across Australia since December 1.
Most of the deaths occurred while people were swimming, boating or at the beach.
This week, a 50-year-old woman drowned when she was caught in a rip at Park Beach in Coffs Harbour.
The woman was swimming with a child when they were swept out to sea. The child was brought safely to shore.
Just days earlier, two children drowned in Perth’s Swan River near a popular family picnic spot on New Year’s Eve.
The four-year-old girl and six-year-old boy were found unconscious near where revellers had gathered for New Year celebrations and close to a children’s playground.
A two-year-old girl also died just days after Christmas when she was pulled unresponsive from a backyard pool in northern NSW.
