Swimmer who drowned at Hutt Gully Beach is identified as Irish tourist who flew to Australia to visit his daughter
The swimmer who drowned on a Victorian beach has been identified as an Irish tourist visiting his daughter on the 'holiday of a lifetime'.
John Holland, 63, died after falling into a rip at Hutt Gully Beach, south of Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road, at 2.20pm on Monday.
A Victoria Police spokeswoman said a 31-year-old woman noticed the swimmer was in trouble and swam out to help.
The woman is believed to have been Mr. Holland's daughter, Emma.
The 31-year-old had only recently moved to Melbourne and was being visited by her father when the tragic incident unfolded.
John Holland, 63, drowned after falling into the water at Hutt Gully Beach, south of Anglesea on the Great Ocean Road, Victoria, after being caught in a rip about 2.20pm on Monday.
The grain merchant was on holiday visiting his daughter Emma, who had only recently moved to Melbourne and is described as a 'lovely gentleman'
Witnesses told police that Mr. Holland got into trouble just before he was pulled from the water.
City councilor Michael McCarthy told the newspaper Geelong Advertiser a large wave was heading towards the swimmers and Mr. Holland could not escape it.
He said the grain merchant's daughter was very lucky to survive.
Family and friends in Ireland are coping with the devastating loss of their famous locals.
Father O'Gorman, a priest from Mr Holland's home village of Ballyragget, County Kilkenny, paid tribute to his parishioner.
'[He was] a nice gentleman who would help people,” he said.
'He seemed so happy, so happy there with Emma. The holiday of a lifetime, but we didn't think we would bring him home dead.'
Father O'Gorman said Mr Holland loved his family and always made them a priority.
Tragically, he lost his wife to an illness just over a year ago, in 2022.
Sixteen years ago, two Indian exchange students also drowned at Hutt Gully Beach, Victoria
A spokesperson for Life Saving Victoria said the tragedy reminds people to always swim at patrolled beaches and to be aware of any swimming restrictions.
Sixteen years ago, two Indian exchange students drowned on the same beach after falling into a rip and being dragged more than 50 meters offshore.
The 19-year-old male swimmer was pulled from the water by paramedics but died at the scene and the body of the 22-year-old woman was found 30 meters out to sea.