By Luke Voogt
A Barwon Heads dad who drowned off Thirteenth Beach on Saturday has been remembered by Geelong’s business community as a passionate innovator and friend.
Peter Dostis, 56, died after he was pulled from the water on Saturday afternoon.
A Victoria Police spokesperson said Mr Dostis was swimming with two others about 5pm when they got into difficulty in the water.
“A boy and a girl were assisted back to shore while the man was winched out of the water by chopper,” the spokesperson said.
“CPR was commenced onshore but he died at the scene.”
Geelong Chamber of Commerce on Monday afternoon paid tribute to Mr Dostis, who was a director of the organisation’s board.
“Our best wishes go to Peter’s family during this difficult time,” the chamber stated.
“Peter made a significant contribution to the chamber and his innovative ideas, relentless enthusiasm and push to improve things made us all better.
“Peter was a passionate supporter of local businesses through start-up and incubator programs at Runway which gave business owners their best chance of success.
“We have lost a very good friend and we will miss him dearly. Vale Peter.”
Mr Dostis was chief executive officer and co-founder of Runway Geelong, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping launch local start-ups.
Many chamber members, businesspeople and friends took to social media to pay their respects to Mr Dostis and his family.
He was the second man to die in local waters on Saturday.
Earlier in the afternoon lifesavers found a man dead in water off Anglesea.
Two men were out in a small boat just after 2pm when their vessel overturned. One man made it back to shore to raise the alarm.
Lifesavers later found his companion, a 58-year-old man, and attempted to revive him but he died at the scene.
Police will prepare reports for the coroner for both incidents.
