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A brave police constable who battled huge swell in a desperate bid to bring a young swimmer to shore on New Year’s Day has been praised by his colleagues for charging into the surf fully clothed.
Emergency crews rushed to Coogee Beach in Sydney‘s eastern suburbs about 6am on Thursday after reports the swimmer, believed to be aged in his 20s, was in trouble in the water.
TV cameras captured the moment NSW Police Constable Lucas Matthews charged into the surf in his full uniform, clutching a flotation device in a bid to assist two off-duty lifesavers who were also trying to reach the man.
Tragically, the swimmer disappeared just minutes after their rescue efforts began with police early on Thursday afternoon announcing the search had been temporarily suspended due to weather conditions.
‘Even though he wasn’t a trained lifesaver, (Constable Matthews) was still able to take a flotation device out with him to try and attempt to save these swimmers, as did the off-duty lifesavers as well,’ Chief Inspector Chris Whalley told reporters.
‘This is the type of thing that NSW Police do across the state on a daily basis. When people are in trouble and they’re alerted, they’re nearby as they put themselves at risk, put themselves at danger, for in an effort to help others.’
Paramedics earlier this morning treated some onlookers for shock, with a group of young men and women seen hugging on the shoreline.
The missing swimmer was one of four people who decided to brave the rough conditions at Coogee for a New Year’s Day swim.
The cop – who the Daily Mail can reveal is NSW Police Constable Lucas Matthews – is seen running into the giant swell at Coogee Beach, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, fully clothed. He has been praised by colleagues and surf life savers for his efforts
The hero cop is seen after he charged into the surf at Coogee Beach in his full uniform
Constable Matthews was given a blanket following his heroic dash into the surf at Coogee
A helicopter is seen over the eastern suburbs coast after two tragedies unfolded overnight
Police officers are seen speaking to beach-goers at Coogee on Thursday after the swimmer went missing
Unfortunately, the search was suspended on Thursday afternoon, given the rough seas
‘Due to the large surf, they were swept out in a very big rip and got swept off their feet. They tried to make their way back to shore and required assistance,’ Coogee Lifesaving Club president Ben Heenan said.
‘An off-duty police officer and two off-duty surf lifesavers went in and provided that assistance. Three of them were able to make it back to shore, unfortunately, one was unable to return.’
The drama unfolded only two hours after a separate deadly drowning incident at nearby Maroubra Beach, less than three kilometres away.
Around 4am, a 25-year-old woman was swept out to sea when a powerful wave knocked her from a tidal rock pool and dragged her into the ocean.
Her body was recovered about an hour later during an extensive search involving PolAir helicopters and Marine Area Command.
The body is yet to be formally identified, but police believe it is the missing woman.
Authorities are urging Aussies to stay away from Sydney’s beaches on Thursday.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a hazardous surf warning for the coastline, advising swimmers to keep out of the water and avoid surf-exposed areas.
Revellers are seen at Coogee Beach, where a search is underway for a missing swimmer
A crowd gathered at Coogee as a search was launched for a man believed to be aged in his 20s
Similar warnings are in place for the Byron, Coffs, Macquarie, Hunter, Illawarra and Eden coasts, with treacherous conditions expected throughout New Year’s Day.
‘People should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas,’ the warning said.
Rock fishers are being told to seek safer platforms, while boaties are warned against crossing shallow bars due to the ongoing risk.
Northern Beaches surf lifesaving co-ordinator Steve Downman said Sydney beaches were being pounded by ‘walls of white water’ and powerful waves.
‘Heading to the beach today is definitely not a good idea, most beaches will be closed,’ he told ABC Sydney Radio.
The Maroubra rock pool is pictured where a young woman was swept into the ocean is pictured
‘We’re expecting waves up to two and a half to three metres, extremely large and dangerous.’
The incidents in Sydney’s east comes just a day after a man was killed at Palm Beach when his small boat capsized in massive swell and smashed onto rocks.
A frantic search has resumed for a 14-year-old boy who was onboard and remains missing on Thursday.
Another man from the vessel was found clinging to a rock platform about 25 metres from the overturned boat, suffering severe injuries to his left leg.
He was winched to safety by a rescue helicopter and lowered onto a clearing near the foreshore car park for urgent treatment.
