North Durras Beach rock fishing accident claims woman's life

A 25-year-old woman died after being struck by a wave and swept into the ocean while rock fishing at North Durras Beach on the NSW South Coast. The incident occurred around 6:00 PM on Saturday while she was fishing with a 39-year-old man.

According to police, the man attempted to enter the surf to retrieve the woman but was washed back to shore. A passing vessel eventually located the woman and brought her to shore, where CPR was performed, but she could not be revived and died at the scene. Authorities confirmed that neither individual was wearing safety equipment at the time of the accident.

This tragedy follows several other rock fishing fatalities on the Far South Coast in 2025. In response to ongoing risks, Surf Life Saving NSW is conducting safety programs and trialing AI-powered surveillance cameras at specific locations to detect when fishers fall into the water and automatically alert emergency services.