A pall of grief has fallen over Phillip Island after a 60-year-old local surfer drowned at the renowned Surfies Point break yesterday afternoon, in what authorities are describing as a sobering reminder of the ocean’s unforgiving power at the very start of the 2025–26 summer season.
The incident unfolded around 1 p.m. when the experienced surfer was caught in difficulty in moderate but treacherous conditions marked by strong rip currents and shifting swells. Fellow surfers and beachgoers raised the alarm immediately. Lifesavers from the Woolamai Beach Surf Life Saving Club raced to the scene and pulled the man from the water, where paramedics performed prolonged CPR on the sand. Despite valiant efforts, he was pronounced dead at the scene.
SUPPORT THE FAMILY - GOD BLESS YOU
Although police have withheld the man’s name pending formal identification and family notification, those who knew him have begun sharing quiet tributes across local social media groups. Friends described him as a “true waterman” who had surfed Phillip Island’s breaks for decades, a familiar and respected figure who was often among the first in the line-up at dawn.
“It’s absolutely gut-wrenching,” said Woolamai SLSC patrol captain Sarah Brennan. “He was one of our own — someone who understood these waves better than most. It just shows that no matter how much experience you have, the ocean demands respect every single day.”
Surf Life Saving Victoria issued a fresh summer safety alert in the wake of the tragedy, highlighting that rip currents at Surfies Point had strengthened unexpectedly yesterday due to a combination of recent onshore winds and a building south-westerly swell. The organization urged surfers to:
Always check the latest beach report on the SLS Beachsafe app
Surf between the red-and-yellow flags when patrols are operating
Never surf alone, especially in powerful or unfamiliar conditions
Know your limits and have an exit strategy if caught in a rip
Wednesday’s fatality is the first surfing-related drowning on Phillip Island in more than six years, underscoring both the break’s reputation as a high-performance wave and the rarity of such outcomes among the island’s tight-knit big-wave community.
Local shapers, cafés, and surf schools have begun posting black-ribbon profile pictures online, while a spontaneous sunset paddle-out is already being organized for this weekend at Woolamai Beach to honor the fallen surfer’s life.
As thousands of holidaymakers begin arriving for the peak summer period — including the influx of international surfers drawn to the island’s famous right-hand point breaks — the community is rallying around the man’s family and reflecting on a heartbreaking loss that has tempered the usual excitement of a new season.
Police have confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious and a report is being prepared for the Coroner. Support services have been made available to witnesses and first responders affected by the incident.
Phillip Island’s summer of 2025–26 has begun with a heavy heart, but also with a unified call: respect the ocean, look out for each other, and surf safe.