Man recovered from Murrumbidgee River after drowning at Kambah Pool
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More than 54 people have died in Australia’s waterways since early December.
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2022-01-22T14: 31: 00 + 11: 00
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A man drowned in the Murrumbidgee River near a popular seaside resort in southern Canberra on Saturday.
Police confirmed that the body of a 75-year-old man had been found out of the water after a significant search effort.
The customs helicopter made slow passages near the largest rock pool. Photo: Elesa Kurtz
The man had been reported missing around 12.30pm and had been at the bathing resort with family. Police announced the man’s death at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Acting Sergeant Angus Fergusson of Tuggeranong Police Station said the circumstances surrounding the man’s death were under active investigation.
The man had initially been assisted by a kayaker who had not been able to pull him out of the water, he said.
Man recovered from Murrumbidgee River after drowning at Kambah Pool
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More than 54 people have died in Australia’s waterways since early December.
news, latest news,
2022-01-22T14: 31: 00 + 11: 00
https://players.brightcove.net/3879528182001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6293011157001
https://players.brightcove.net/3879528182001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6293011157001
The search effort had been supported by ACT Ambulance, ACT State Emergency Service and Australian Federal Police.
Earlier Saturday afternoon, a Toll ambulance rescue helicopter flew low over the river in the afternoon while officers from search and rescue officers and the Australian Federal Police Maritime Specialist Response Group were deployed.
A Toll ambulance and rescue helicopter are flying over the Murrumbidgee River after a suspected drowning at the Kambah Pool on Saturday. Photo: Elesa Kurtz
The helicopter hovered about 100 meters above the river and made slow passages from the main rock pool to an area about 300 meters downstream.
The doors to both sides of the helicopter were open, with officers stationed on either side of the plane to look for signs of the missing man below.
The steep sides of Murrumbidgee mean there is no safe place to land.
There were police officers on either side of the river searching the banks.
Police have cordoned off Kambah Pool Road as a search continues Saturday afternoon for a missing man believed to have drowned. Photo: Elesa Kurtz
The Murrumbidgee River was high and ran strong after recent rain with murky brown water.
Acting Sergeant Fergusson said that while the weather in Canberra had improved in recent days, the waterways were still quite cold.
“We would like to take this opportunity to remind Canberrans, who make use of the natural waterways and water features of Canberra, to be extremely careful when swimming,” he said.
“People should always exercise caution at any time of the year when using the natural waterways of the ACT. Certainly after heavy rainfall, they should consider whether it is safe to enter the waterway. And if they are unsafe , they should not come in. “
The Kambah Pool had been closed for swimming following a bacterial alert in the Murrumbidgee River, but remained open for sailing and secondary contact activities.
The toll reveals that men aged 18 to 34 are most at risk, while more people drown in inland waterways such as rivers, lakes and dams than on the beach.
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