Woman Dies After Being Swept into Ocean at Maroubra Beach on New Year's Day

Tragic Start to New Year at Maroubra Beach

A 25-year-old woman has died after being swept into the ocean from Maroubra Beach in Sydney, Australia, during the early hours of New Year's Day 2026. Emergency services were called to the eastern Sydney beach around 4 am on Thursday following reports of a person being swept out to sea.

Witnesses informed police that the woman was struck by a wave, which knocked her into a tidal rock pool, before subsequent waves carried her further into the ocean.

Extensive Search and Recovery Efforts

Upon receiving the distress call, a comprehensive search operation was launched. This involved the Marine Area Command, PolAir (police air wing), and NSW Ambulance.

The woman's body was located approximately an hour later, around 5 am. Despite 'courageous efforts' by bystanders to resuscitate her, she could not be revived. Formal identification is pending, but authorities believe the body is that of the missing woman.

Hazardous Conditions and Broader Incidents

The incident occurred amid severe and hazardous surf conditions affecting Sydney and the broader New South Wales coastline. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) had issued a hazardous surf warning for the area.

This tragedy was part of a series of water-related emergencies across Sydney beaches during the New Year's period:

• A search was underway at nearby Coogee Beach for a missing swimmer, believed to be a man in his 20s, who got into trouble in the water shortly after 6 am on Thursday.
• On New Year's Eve, a man died after a dinghy capsized in rough conditions near Palm Beach, northern Sydney.
• Surf Life Saving NSW Chief Executive Steven Pearce urged the public to avoid entering the water if beaches were closed, highlighting the dramatic increase in rescues and drownings during this period.

Authorities Urge Caution

Authorities have strongly advised beachgoers to exercise extreme caution and to check conditions before entering the water. Many beaches in Sydney and along the NSW coastline were closed due to the dangerous surf. The events underscore the powerful and unforgiving nature of the ocean, particularly during periods of high swell and hazardous conditions.