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Man drowns during Vivid Sydney light show

A Sydney man has tumbled into Darling Harbour and drowned on the opening night of the Vivid light festival.

Ambulance service stands by during search for a missing man who reportedly fell off a pier at Darling Harbour around 11pm on Friday May 23, 2014,  during the opening night of Vivid Sydney festival.
Ambulance service stands by during search for a missing man who reportedly fell off a pier at Darling Harbour around 11pm on Friday May 23, 2014, during the opening night of Vivid Sydney festival.

Investigators are retracing the final steps of a man who drowned in a Sydney harbour on Friday as the Vivid light show lit up the sky.

Police say the 34-year-old Randwick man was at Darling Harbour on the festival's opening night when he went into the water about 11pm (AEST).

Two friends jumped in after him and officers from the Marine Area Command, Police Rescue and the NSW Ambulance helicopter joined the search, but the man could not be saved.

Police divers retrieved his body in the early hours of Saturday.

Marine Area Command Acting Superintendent Joe McNulty says it is still not clear whether the man fell or was pushed.

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"We haven't been able to confirm a trip, a fall or a push," Acting Supt McNulty told the ABC.

"All witnesses said they heard a splash and then they saw the 34-year-old man in the water.

"Our investigators are looking at the events that led up to the incident, where they were during the evening.

Vivid organisers say they are "shocked and saddened" by the tragedy, but that the incident is now a police matter.


2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP


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