It has been a horror season for drowning deaths across the South Coast, with two anglers washed off rocks while fishing at Gerroa’s Black Head.

The bodies of the two men were recovered earlier this week after an extensive search for the missing fishermen.

About 4pm last Sunday, Lake Illawarra Police District officers were informed of a missing person report, relating to two rock fishermen who travelled from southern Sydney to the South Coast and failed to return.

Following enquiries, they established a command post at Black Head Reserve, Gerroa and started a search with assistance from NSW Police Rescue Squad, State Emergency Service, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW and Lifesaver helicopter.

Police were told the two men from Blakehurst and Hurstville – aged 59 and 53 – who were known to each other were believed to frequent the Kiama, Gerringong and Jervis Bay area for rock fishing.

Initial inquiries have led police to believe that the body found on Sunday is that of the missing 53-year-old man.

About 2.45pm on Tuesday, the body of another man was found north of the Black Head Reserve.

The body is yet to be formally identified, but is believed to be that of the missing 59-year-old fisherman.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

There was another incident at Gerroa with a family rescued by first responders nearby less than an hour after the two fishermen were swept off the rocks.

The two fishermen were not wearing life jackets.

Earlier this month a fisherman was rescued near Kiama Blowhole after being washed off the rocks in large swells.

First responders say the man was wearing a life jacket and it likely saved his life, along with recently installed AI technology alerting emergency services who instantly responded.

Surf Life Saving NSW South Coast Branch president Shane Wicks said the fact the man swam away from the rock shelf was also key to his survival.

“Most fatalities occur when rock fishermen are swept off rocks and then pushed back onto them,” he said.

“Injuries from rocks make it harder to survive the conditions. Anglers who are washed off rocks have a much higher chance of survival if they are wearing a life jacket.

“In the Wollongong, Kiama and Shoalhaven regions, helicopters and water rescue craft can usually get to people in trouble within half an hour of being alerted to an emergency.

“If tgey are wearing life jackets they have much more chance of staying afloat until first responders arrive.”

He cited a recent incident where a rock fisherman was washed into the water at 2am off the Kiama coast but managed to stay afloat for several hours until emergency crews were alerted.

“A helicopter and rescue craft got there within half an hour of the alert but the man had been in the water for several hours and only survived because he was wearing a life jacket.”

Wicks has called on anglers and swimmers to take a moment to assess the conditions before entering the water or rock shelves.

“There’s always a safer spot to go fishing or swimming if the conditions are too rough,” he says.

“If the conditions aren’t favourable, sit it out and wait until the next day, it’s not worth risking your life.”

He also reminded anglers and swimmers to “never turn their back on the ocean or swim or fish alone”.

“There is a lot more activity on the region’s beaches and patrolled areas fill up quickly,” he explains.

“But what we are seeing is people moving away from the busy flagged areas and getting into trouble.

“It’s really important that people, particularly if they aren’t familiar with the conditions, take a moment to assess the dangers before diving in, rely on local knowledge by talking to surfers about the ocean conditions and always swim at patrolled beaches and wear a life jacket while rock fishing.”

In NSW alone, seven people drowned in the first five days of the new year - two of those at Jervis Bay, with Christmas/New Year often described as the summer season’s most dangerous period.

However, the Australia Day long weekend has proven just as deadly with four fatalities - two anglers at Gerroa and two men drowning in a North Coast river.