Six People Rescued in Three Separate Drowning Incidents Across Victoria on Christmas Day 2025
On Christmas Day 2025, six people were rescued in three separate potential drowning incidents across Victoria.
In the most notable incident, two paddle boarders, a 51-year-old woman and her 17-year-old stepson, were swept more than 10 km across Port Phillip Bay from Portarlington on the Bellarine Peninsula to Wyndham harbour in Melbourne's outer west. They departed around 3 pm without lifejackets and were found exhausted and cold but not injured around 6:20 pm by air wing police officers. The search involved ground police, air wing police helicopter officers, Life Saving Victoria, and Queenscliff coast guards. The family raised the alarm just after 5 pm and expressed gratitude to the rescuers.
Earlier on the day, a kayaker in trouble was reported at Lake King in Paynesville around 1:30 pm. He was located unharmed by a police helicopter around 3 pm.
In Westernport Bay near Corinella jetty at approximately 2:10 pm, a mother and her two teenage daughters wearing lifejackets were rescued after being found distressed. They were winched to safety by the Westpac rescue helicopter and dropped back at Corinella without injury.
All involved were safe following the successful rescues carried out by multiple agencies across Victoria on Christmas Day.
