Coroner’s report includes summer swimming warning

A Coroner's report into the death of an Indian student at a notorious Victorian beach is highlighting the dangers of swimming as the summer period fast approaches, particularly for people from multicultural communities.

Jil Jayeshbhai Khokhara, aged 26, died and two of his friends were hospitalised after the group got into trouble swimming at Marengo Beach near Apollo Bay in March this year.

Bystander Brianna Hurst pulled the three men from the water in a dramatic rescue.

A report by Coroner David Ryan said Khokhara's death highlighted the risks to swimmers at Victoria's ocean beaches.

Coroner Ryan said this was particularly pertinent as the summer period approached when more people would be visiting the beach and waterways, noting "Jil's death was a tragedy which has devastated his family and friends.

"Those who are not confident and sufficiently competent in the water to manage the potential hazards should approach Victoria's ocean beaches with caution and swim at patrolled beaches."

As reported by the ABC, just two weeks after Khokhara's death, two teenage girls and a man nearly drowned at the same beach. In 2017 and 2021, it was the site of other drownings or near-drownings.

Surf Life Saving Australia has classified the unpatrolled Marengo Beach as extremely hazardous and warning signs have been placed at the entry point from the car park to warn visitors of strong currents and large breaking waves.

Coroner Ryan’s report advised that Khokhara was the 27th person to drown in Victoria during the 2023 and 2024 summer season. Since July 2023, 12 people born outside of Australia drowned in Victoria.

Life Saving Victoria has identified a number of risks for multicultural communities, including lack of swimming ability and a shortfall of water safety messages and programs which targeted culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Coroner Ryan’s report also noted that Royal Life Saving Society - Australia proposed to the Federal Department of Home Affairs this year that water safety information should be included in visa processing and arrivals documentation for refugee entrants to Australia.

The coroner's report endorsed recommendations made by Life Saving Victoria and other water safety bodies aimed at the prevention of drowning deaths focused on multicultural communities, including targeted safety signs for high-risk beaches and waterways in a range of languages.

Image credit: Surf Life Saving Australia. Image included for illustrative purposes only.