A YOUNG man who died at Mordialloc Beach on Boxing Day will be laid to rest this week.
Nick Maan was reported missing in the water near Beach Road at around 4pm on 26 December. With the assistance of Life Saving Victoria and police helicopters he was found and pulled from the water, but was not able to be revived.
Maan will be farewelled by friends and family at his funeral this week. His football club, Pakenham Lions JFC, paid tribute to him on Facebook after learning of his death.
“We offer our sincerest condolences, love and support to Nick’s family and loved ones. Nick was an extremely talented footballer, who had the world at his feet,” the club said.
“Above all, Nick was a courteous and caring young man, who had an amazing and beautiful soul. Nick was a much loved member of the Pakenham footballing family and will be missed by all who knew him. A life taken far too soon.”
The teenager’s tragic death was one of six drownings which occurred statewide between 26 December and 9 January. Earlier in December four teenagers survived an overnight ordeal in the waters of Port Phillip, and as of 9 January police are continuing a search for a 20-year-old who went missing from Gunnamatta Beach.
A Life Saving Victoria report released late last year revealed that older swimmers are more likely to die from drowning in the Kingston local government area. With school holidays in full swing, Life Saving Victoria has issued a reminder that children are also extremely vulnerable to drowning.
“With January marking school holidays, many families will head away to the coast or river to enjoy a relaxing break, but the one thing you can never relax on is water safety,” LSV research and evaluation manager Dr Hannah Calverley said. “It takes just twenty seconds for a child to drown in as little as a few centimetres of water, so to avoid tragedy these holidays, please actively supervise children at all times, which means under-fives in arm’s reach and under 10s in your constant and direct eyeline.
“If you are celebrating or holidaying with a large group of people, it can be easy to assume that someone else is watching the kids when in fact, nobody is. This is why LSV encourages you to have designated adult supervisors whose role it is to actively watch the kids. You can rotate this role throughout the day, so everyone gets a chance to relax and enjoy themselves.”
Children aged between 5 and 14 are at the highest risk of drowning during January, LSV says.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 11 January 2023
