Updated | Women picnickers swept to death at Kurnell named

The two women, who were swept to their death from a rock platform at Kurnell on Monday, have been named as Marwa Hashim, 35, and Nirsha Haris, 38.

The women were Indian nationals and members of the Sydney Malayalee community.

The Malayalee ethnic group originates from the present-day state of Kerala in south western India.

Surf Life Saving NSW had earlier said the women were believed to be Nepalese, as were the two men who died in a similar incident at Kurnell a fortnight ago.

Sydney Malayalee Association confirmed the deaths of its two members.

"Sydney Malayalee Community is saddened by the horrific and sudden death of two of our members Marwa Hashim and Nirsha Haris," the group said on Facebook post, which included photos of the women.

"Sydney Malayalee Association offer our heartfelt condolence to the bereaved families."

Earlier

Two women, who died after being swept off a rock shelf at Kurnell on Monday, had been picnicking in Kamay Botany Bay National Park.

Like two rock fishermen who died in the same area a fortnight ago, the women, aged 38 and 39, are believed to be from the Nepalese community, Surf Life Saving NSW says.

The women were swept off rocks at Yena Gap, about 4.3pm.

The location adjoins a picnic area and walking track and is a short distance from Cape Solander, where the men died.

A third woman also swept from the rock shelf at Yena Gap is recovering in hospital.

Police Superintendent Joe McNulty said the group had been picnicking in the national park.

"They went for a walk to the rock shelf (where) there was a low tide at that time," he told ABC News.

"That rock shelf was very exposed and when they're exposed, they're very slippery, and they're actually quite a dangerous location to be in, especially so close to the ocean."

Supt McNulty said three of the women were knocked into the water by a large wave.

"The pressure has swept them out to sea, but luckily, very luckily, one was able to be plucked from the water by two of the group and a passer-by [gave] assistance as well," he said.

A nearby police helicopter spotted the women in the water and together with a police boat, rescue crews pulled two of the women unconscious from the water.

Two of the crew members commenced CPR but the women were unable to be revived.

"It's a very difficult operation doing CPR over wet people on a moving boat, or moving deck, and one of the officers drove that vessel at speed back to Kurnell," Supt McNulty said.

The women were not rock-fishing, he confirmed.

"They were just out there for a walk in a dangerous situation that they didn't know they were in at the time," he said.

It is the second drowning incident at Kurnell in less than a fortnight.

Two fishermen were swept off rocks on Cape Solander Drive on May 28, in an area declared a high-risk rock-fishing location where anglers must wear life jackets.

The deceased women are yet to be formally identified.

With Australian Associated Press

Earlier

The two women, aged 38 and 39, who drowned at Kurnell on Monday were walking along a rock shelf when they were swept into the sea.

Like two rock fishermen who died in the same area a fortnight ago, they are believed to be from the Nepalese community.

The women were swept off rocks at Yena Gap, near Cape Solander where the men died.

Surf Life Saving NSW said, "It is believed the women, of Nepalese origin, were walking along the rock shelf with a group of five people when three of them came into difficulty in an area notorious for unpredictable swell"

"The Surf Life Saving NSW State Operations Centre was alerted to the incident unfolding just after 5pm, where Water Police had pulled two people face down from the water and were performing CPR.

"SLSNSW Duty Officers arrived on scene, however the women were declared deceased on scene shortly after."

Chief executive Steve Pearce said, with whale migration season in full swing and the peak period of late-June to early-July still to come, SLSNSW was warning those heading to the coastline to participate in rock fishing, whale watching or any other recreational activities, to heed caution.

"In the last two weeks we have seen four drownings at this location, all of which stemming from people participating in activities on exposed rock shelves which pose serious risks," he said.

"We cannot stress enough, particularly at this time of year where we see more and more people coming to the coastline for activities other than swimming, that it is still very important that you take caution and understand your limits in these treacherous locations."

The Bureau of Meteorology has also issued a Hazardous Surf Warning for Sydney and Hunter regions for today and tomorrow (June 11-12).

Earlier

Two women have died after they were swept off rocks in the Sutherland Shire today.

About 4.30pm today (Monday, June 10), emergency serviced were called to the water near Yena Road, Kurnell, following reports three women had been swept from rocks into the ocean.

One woman was able to exit the water and climb onto rocks before she was assisted by members of the public.

Two women were located with assistance from PolAir and pulled from the water unconscious by officers attached to Marine Area Command.

NSW Ambulance paramedics and a Toll Helicopter doctor treated the two women at the scene, but they were unable to be revived.

They are yet to be formally identified.

Police have established a crime scene and commenced an investigation into the incident; however, no suspicious circumstances have been identified at this time.

A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. Information is treated in strict confidence. The public is reminded not to report information via NSW Police social media pages.