NPWS responds to latest cliff jumping death at Wattamolla

A 27-year-old Nepalese student died on Monday just after paid lifeguards, who patrol the popular swimming area in Royal National Park, had finished for the day.

Police said emergency services responded to reports the man and a woman had got into difficulties after jumping from a rock ledge.

A woman in her 20s was treated at the scene by ambulance paramedics and taken to hospital in a stable condition. The body of the man was later retrieved.

Undeterred by the tragedy, thrill seekers were continuing to jump from the cliff the following day.

National Parks and Wildlife Service said in a statement:

"Jumping off the waterfall at Wattamolla Lagoon is not permitted.

"The waterfall is fenced off to the public and the signs at the waterfall advise no jumping and no diving.

"Surf Lifesavers are on site over the busy summer period (December-January).

"NPWS will review the incident, including the current safety measures in place, and will make changes if any additional preventative safety measures are identified.

"NSW Police are investigating the incident and preparing a report for the Coroner.".

In 2019, a spokesman for National Parks and Wildlife Service said a range of deterrents, including signs and safety barriers, were in place.

"Unfortunately, some individuals continue to put themselves at risk," he said.

"People can face penalties however, NPWS prefers to use education to raise awareness of the danger."

Surf Life Saving NSW said there had been six drownings at Wattamolla in the last five years.

The organisation's State Operations Centre was alerted to the emergency by a call to Triple Zero.

"A number of Surf Life Saving assets, including the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter, were tasked to the scene," a statement said.

"Once on scene, a Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter crewman was winched down to the lagoon and commenced an underwater search for the missing man.

"He was assisted by Surf Life Saving Sydney Duty Officers, Joel Wiseman, Jackson Towns and an off-duty lifeguard."

Joel Wiseman said, "On arriving at Wattamolla, we immediately commenced a search of the lagoon for the missing man.

"The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter crewman had flippers and goggles and was able to dive under the water.

"After 20 minutes of searching, he found the man who was about seven feet under the water," Joel Wiseman said.

"The Westpac Helicopter crewman managed to pull the man to the surface and we got him onto a rescue board and took him to shore where CPR was commenced.

"Unfortunately, despite the best efforts and swift actions of surf lifesavers and emergency service personnel, the man could not be revived and was pronounced deceased at the scene by a NSW Ambulance doctor."

The statement said the deceased man had been swimming in the Wattamolla Beach lagoon with a woman, who was treated by paramedics at the scene and taken to hospital conscious and breathing.

"There have been six drownings at Wattamolla Beach, in Sydney's Royal National Park, over the past five years and a total of 12 drownings/deaths at Royal National Park beaches in general - including Figure 8 Pools," the statement said.

"In recent years there has been a significant increase in the use of the Royal National Park with visitations up by 50.2 per cent between 2012 and 2018 to over six million visits per year and it is now the second busiest national park in the state."

"Wattamolla and Garie Beach are used by large numbers of people from a wide range of demographic backgrounds.

"This includes residents from Greater Sydney and Wollongong, as well as a large number of domestic and international visitors.

"Many of the visitors that use the Royal National Park beaches are considered high-risk swimming groups with many from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse communities.

"For this reason, Wattamolla beach is now patrolled by paid lifeguards during summer. Unfortunately, lifeguard services had finished for the day at the time the man disappeared in the lagoon.

"At the time of the incident there was a significant amount of thunderstorm activity in the area and lifeguards had warned a number of people not to swim in the Wattamolla Beach lagoon."

Mr Wiseman said the search and recovery of the man was a complex operation involving multiple emergency service personnel.

"Because Wattamolla Beach is in such a remote area and has limited mobile phone reception, emergency communications is very challenging," he said.

"However, we were able to quickly set up a portable radio repeater to assist police, NSW Fire and Rescue and other emergency services in the response."