A man is feared to have drowned at a man-made beach in Sydney’s west.
The man is believed to have entered the water at the newly opened Penrith Beach, about 58 kilometers west of Sydney, at 2.35pm on Boxing Day.
The beach is closed as rescue crews frantically search the area.
NSW Police, NSW Ambulance and lifeguards joined the search efforts with specialist police divers and a Toll rescue helicopter, also on the beach.
The missing man is believed to have entered the water at Penrith Beach, about 58km west of Sydney, on Boxing Day around 2.35pm (photo, the new man-made beach west of Sydney)
Previously there were fears a young child was believed to have been swimming with the man, but they were pulled from the water unharmed.
“Around 2.35pm today, emergency services were called to New Penrith Beach in Castlereagh after reports a man had entered the water and failed to resurface,” police said in a statement.
‘Officers from Nepean Police Area Command have launched a search to locate the man, with police divers assisting. Investigations are ongoing.”
The beach officially opened last week and received mixed reviews from visitors.
A NSW government website bluntly lists what is not allowed on the beach, such as cycling, being dropped off by a family member and even visiting without a booking – with some dismissing the rules as ‘un-Australian’.
Penrith Beach is open from December 19 to March 3 during the warmer months.
