Sydney Woman Melissa Austin Dies After Drowning at Dunbogan Beach on New Year’s Day
A Sydney hairdresser and mother of two young boys is being remembered as a “beautiful person” after tragically drowning on New Year’s Day while holidaying with her family on the NSW Mid-North Coast.
Melissa Austin, 45, of Sydney, died Thursday afternoon after being pulled from the water at Dunbogan Beach in the Camden Haven region. Despite urgent efforts by emergency services and surf lifesavers, she could not be revived. Tributes from friends, family, and members of the hairdressing community have since poured in, describing her as kind, devoted to her children, and deeply loved.
Austin’s death comes amid a series of serious water-related emergencies across New South Wales and beyond, marking a tragic start to 2026.
Earlier on Thursday, emergency services were called to Maroubra Beach in Sydney’s eastern suburbs at about 4 a.m. following reports that a person had been swept into the ocean. A 25-year-old woman, believed to be a Chinese national, was located about an hour later but could not be resuscitated.
At nearby Coogee Beach, surf lifesavers launched a search shortly after 6 a.m. for a missing 25-year-old man who was last seen in the water. Two other people were rescued during that incident. The search was expected to continue on Friday, with grave concerns held for the man’s survival.
Surf Life Saving NSW Chief Executive Steven Pearce said the succession of incidents has taken a heavy toll on families and first responders.
“Already we have seen tragedy unfold that will ripple across so many families and so many first responders,” Pearce said. “This is an incredibly painful time.”
Since Christmas Day, NSW surf lifesavers have carried out more than 85 rescues. On New Year’s Eve alone, emergency crews responded to multiple critical incidents, including at Avoca Beach on the Central Coast, where a 50-year-old man was pulled unconscious from the water by two off-duty lifesavers and flown to Royal North Shore Hospital in serious condition.
Additional incidents were reported both across the state and interstate, including a fatal drowning at Whitehaven Beach in Queensland’s Whitsundays and a boating tragedy at Palm Beach in Sydney, where a dinghy capsized in rough conditions. A large-scale search remains underway for a missing teenager from that incident.
Pearce urged beachgoers to exercise caution during the busy holiday period, noting that ocean conditions can change rapidly.
“This spate of rescues and drownings has just caught everyone off guard,” he said. “We are pleading with people to be careful when entering the water and to swim at patrolled beaches whenever possible.”
As investigations continue, communities across Sydney and the Mid-North Coast are mourning multiple losses, including that of Melissa Austin, whose memory is being honored by those who knew her as a loving mother and a compassionate presence in their lives.
