A trio of men, believed to be from the city’s west, were swimming at Marengo, near Apollo Bay, about 1.15pm yesterday when they were swept out to sea.
One of them has since died, while the other two are fighting for life.
Brianna Hurst was sitting on the sand when she heard the cries for help, quickly jumping into the surf to help.
One by one, she rescued the men and carried them onto the sand.
”I jumped into action without thinking what I was doing, I did everything I could have done to help them,” the 33-year-old said.
“They were floating face down.
“It feels good I could help them out. I am happy I was there to help. I did something anyone else would do.”
Bystanders, volunteer lifesavers and off-duty doctors raced to the scene and started CPR on the beach.
Two of the men were rushed to hospital in a critical condition, but sadly one 26-year-old man died at the scene.
It’s been one of the worst summers for drowning deaths in Victoria on record, according to Surf Life Saving Victoria Executive Advisor Paul Shannon.
“Summer has been tragic,” he said.
The group, a 20-year-old female student from Clyde, a 23-year-old man from Clyde, a 20-year-old student from Clyde and 43-year-old Reema Sondhi from India, were all swept out to sea and found unresponsive on January 24.
Shannon said monitoring conditions and swimming between the flags had never been more important.
“We need people to take notice,” he said.
“(The number of deaths) has been a trend growing over the years.
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“I think it’s the fact we got out of Covid and our swimming capabilities aren’t as good as they should be.
“People aren’t adhering to messages and they aren’t arming themselves with the knowledge to keep themselves safe at the beach.
“All waterways are dangerous.”
About 27 people have drowned since January 1.
