Death sparks lifebuoys plea

Alex de Vos
Victoria’s peak recreational fishing body has urged Parks Victoria to install lifebuoys at Point Londsdale’s pier after a man drowned while trying to retrieve his cigarettes.
The 36-year-old Herne Hill man was fishing off the pier before he stripped down and dived into the water about 2pm on Monday.
But the area’s strong current swept him away before emergency crews arrived.
Police said the man was “dragged out into the bay”.
Police later found him dead in the water.
Currents near the pier at the southern end of Port Phillip Bay can run around nine knots, equivalent to about 15km/h.
Witnesses said they were unable to save the man without a lifebuoy or rope available on the pier.
VRFish chairman Geoff Cramer said the association had been working with Parks Victoria to address safety issues for anglers at Victoria’s piers.
Piers without life preserving equipment were a threat to safety, he said.
“They can be dangerous places – by nature they take you out deeper (where there are) stronger currents,” Mr Cramer said.
He called on Parks Victoria to install lifebuoys and “appropriate” signs warning people about the dangers of jumping off piers.
“Our policy is that we want angel rings and signs installed where there’s rock fishing and areas of heightened risk,” he said.
“We don’t want people to drown but we want people to have fishing access, so it’s about working with authorities to address safety issues.”
Mr Cramer said VRFish would continue pushing for more safety equipment on piers after the tragedy.
“We’ll definitely be following this up with Parks Victoria.”
But Parks Victoria West Point Phillip ranger in charge Steve McPhee gave the pier a tick for safety standards.
Mr McPhee said regular inspections of the pier had failed to identify any safety hazards.
Equipment was already available at most piers for anglers to rescue themselves if they fell in the water, he said.
“The majority of Parks Victoria’s piers and jetties have low landings and/or ladders to assist people with getting themselves out of the water,” Mr McPhee said.
Police had yet to release the man’s name when the Independent went to press this week.
Police were preparing a report for the coroner, a spokesperson said.