Body of missing 25-year-old is found floating in the water at a popular beach on Christmas Day

Tragedy as body of missing 25-year-old is found floating in the water at a popular beach on Christmas Day

  • The man drowned while swimming at Wagga Wagga, NSW on Christmas Day 
  • Police retrieved the body an hour after the 25-year-old was reported missing
  • Another man almost drowned while snorkelling at Clovelly Beach in Sydney

A 25-year-old man has drowned after going for a swim on Christmas Day.

The Victorian resident disappeared while taking a dip in the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Wagga in regional New South Wales at about 1pm today. 

Police pulled his body from the water an hour later after a widespread search involving the NSW Volunteer Rescue Association, State Emergency Service, New South Wales Ambulance and the Toll Ambulance Helicopter.

The man was pulled from the Murrumbidgee River at Wagga Beach (pictured) in regional New South Wales after a swim on Christmas Day

Meanwhile, a man has been hospitalised after a snorkelling accident at Clovelly Beach in Sydney.

The 29-year-old was taken to hospital after breathing water into his lungs and nearly drowning.

The man’s friends noticed he was in trouble and pulled him out of the water so lifeguards could perform first-aid while paramedics were called.

Ambulance New South Wales Inspector Michael Corlis said he was conscious but could have suffered serious health concerns after ingesting water into his lungs.  

New South Wales police pulled the body of a man from the Murrumbidgee River in Wagga Wagga after a Christmas Day drowning (stock)

New South Wales police pulled the body of a man from the Murrumbidgee River in Wagga Wagga after a Christmas Day drowning (stock) 

‘He was conscious but was having some trouble with his breathing,’ he told the Daily Telegraph. 

‘He is now in a serious condition at Prince of Wales Hospital but stable,’ Mr Corlis said. 

The Royal Life Saving Australia National Drowning Report for 2019 revealed 276 people died as a result of drowning between the 1st July 2018 and 30th June 2019. 

Rivers accounted for 29% of all drowning deaths, more than any other location. 

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk