Drownings Mark Tragic Easter

Ocean drownings in NSW and Victoria have marked the holiday weekend.

Two brothers watched their father drown as he tried to save them from rough surf in Victoria's far south-west yesterday.

The 68-year-old was throwing a rope to his two sons from a rock ledge when a large wave washed him into the water at Cape Nelson, south of Portland.

The two sons, aged 38 and 17, frantically tried to save their father, who is believed to have hit his head when he was washed into the water. He died at the scene.

A 59-year-old British tourist drowned at Cronulla in Sydney's south, police said.

He was pulled from the surf by lifesavers yesterday after he and his wife were reported missing by their grandchild after 6pm.

Lifesavers were able to rescue the man's wife from the water, but the man was found unconscious and not breathing, Surf Life Saving NSW said.

Meanwhile, a 36-year-old man drowned while swimming one kilometre north of the flagged area at Mollymook on the NSW south coast about 1pm yesterday.

Image included for illustrative purposes only.

30th December 2009 - ALARMING RISE IN HOLIDAY DROWNINGS

15th September 2009 - HORROR YEAR FOR AUSTRALIAN DROWNINGS