Authorities are calling for better beach safety education after two drownings at a beach in Adelaide in little over a week.
Concerns are growing for the sea safety of some migrant communities after the death of a 15-year-old boy from the African nation of Burundi at the popular Glenelg beach.
Eliase Nimbona's body was found on Monday in the water near the Glenelg Jetty, close to where a 15-year-old girl visiting from India drowned on December 10.
Two boys, also from Burundi, drowned in the same area last year.
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Elias Kabura from the Burundi Community Association of South Australia said the "tragic" news was heartbreaking.
"When I finished work and heard that story, my heart was broken," he told SBS News.
"I went to Glenelg where the tragedy occurred, and the mum, friends and other African community (members), not only Burundians, were in tears. It was a tragic event."
Eliase Nimbona's body was found on Monday in the water. Source: AAP
Mr Kabura said there was a huge need for more to be done to ensure newly arrived refugees know adequate water safety.
"Something must be done because it seems that the community is not aware of safety in the water," he said.
"Many of them lived in refugee camps for many years and they didn’t have the chance to learn.
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"They learn from school and from friends that when it's too hot they get cooler at the beach but they don't have enough skills to swim and to stay safe."
The latest death continues the horror start to summer with 10 deaths in Australian coastal waters since the beginning of December.
Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) is alarmed by the total, up from eight drownings in the same period last year, together with the fact that half of those killed have been aged 15 or under.
"It's another young person whose life has tragically been taken," SLSA national coastal risk and safety manager Shane Daw said of the latest death.
It remains unclear exactly how the boy died, with one report claiming that he had been involved in jetty jumping, which is outlawed at Glenelg.
A post-mortem examination is being conducted and a police investigation is underway.
Surf Life Saving officials have warned against jetty jumping, describing it as extremely dangerous.
They have also called for more to be done to educate newly arrived people who might not be familiar with Australian beaches, tides and water conditions.
Surf Life Saving SA chief executive Clare Harris said a third of all drownings in South Australia in the past 10 years were migrants.
"This is the second death we have had in just over a week here at Glenelg which speaks to the need for better education for our migrant communities and international tourists," she said.
"Unfortunately, with current resourcing, our programs reach less than four per cent of the target groups."
Although the incident occurred outside weekend surf club patrol hours, with two paid lifeguards on duty at the time, Ms Harris pledged to review the number of patrols on duty at local beaches.
Emergency Services Minister Chris Picton said the government would consider all the issues surrounding the latest death, including better education for migrant groups.
"We already have a number of programs and work underway in this area," he said.
"This is something we will have to take very seriously now and consider all possible options for what more we can do."
Mr Picton said the government would also review regulations and other measures that discouraged jetty jumping, including modifying jetties to make it more difficult and adding more or bigger warning signs.
The deceased boy's family was thought to have arrived in Australia from Burundi about 10 years ago.
-With AAP
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