A nine-year-old boy who became trapped between rocks at a New South Wales beach on Easter Sunday has tragically died, marking the seventh drowning in Australia over the long weekend.

Emergency crews responded to the incident at South West Rocks, approximately 400 kilometres north of Sydney, but the child could not be saved and died at the scene.

The string of tragedies has made this Easter one of the deadliest on record, according to Surf Life Saving NSW CEO Steven Pearce. "It has just been horrendous on a weekend that's supposed to be joyous and religious," Pearce told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Most of the drownings occurred in New South Wales and were linked to powerful swells that swept people off coastal rocks. In one incident earlier on Sunday, a helicopter spotted a father and son floating near Wattamolla Beach, south of Sydney. While the 14-year-old boy was resuscitated, his father was later pronounced dead.

Two people remain missing, including a 41-year-old man last seen near San Remo, Victoria, on Friday. Search efforts are ongoing.

Since Good Friday, Surf Life Saving NSW has conducted more than 150 rescues as warm temperatures, holiday crowds, and hazardous surf combined to create perilous beach conditions.

Pearce described the situation as a “perfect storm,” urging people to be extremely cautious near the ocean. Conditions are expected to ease by Monday, but the warning remains in place.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed condolences to the families affected, urging beachgoers to stay vigilant. "Please, everyone, be careful. Families in particular, be careful of your kids," he said.

According to Royal Life Saving Australia, 323 people drowned in the country in the year leading up to June 2024. Nearly 40% of those deaths occurred in New South Wales, highlighting the ongoing risks along the nation's coastlines.