Guard of honour for lost Vic lifesavers

Family, friends and community members will gather to pay their respects to heroic Victorian lifesaving duo Andrew and Ross Powell who died during a rescue.

Ross Powell Andrew Powell

Victorians will farewell father and son lifesavers Ross and Andrew Powell who died during a rescue. (AAP)

A Victorian father and son who lost their lives during an Easter Sunday rescue will have a guard of honour lining the streets of the town where they will be farewelled.

Lifesavers across the country are also planning to wear red on Friday in tribute to dairy farmers Ross "Po" Powell, 71, and Andrew Powell, 32, at their funeral in their close-knit community of Timboon.

The pair were among three rescuers who saved a male tourist, struggling after wading in dangerous waters at the mouth of Sherbrook River at Port Campbell.

Their rescue boat flipped in two-metre swells and while the 30-year-old tourist and fellow rescuer, Phil Younis, were winched to safety, the father-son pair couldn't be saved.

"To read so many beautiful messages of support has touched our hearts and we thank you," Port Campbell Surf Life Club President Scott McKenzie said in a message posted online.

"We know you're all feeling the loss with us, and it gives us and the families involved, strength."

There will be a guard of honour along Bailey Street and Powell family members are expected speak after the 3pm service.

A donations page has been set up to help the family and Mr Younis, who was hospitalised in a serious condition after the rescue.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world