“Tragic Congo Beach Drowning: Heroic Teenager Swept Out to Sea Identified as Khattab Abu Haish – Five Feared Lost in Spate of Festive Drownings”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : The search for a hero Sydney teenager who was swept out to sea on the NSW south coast has resumed, as authorities fear that at least five people have drowned over the festive period. The incident occurred at Congo Beach, located approximately 10km south of Moruya, when 19-year-old Khattab Abu Haish jumped into the water to rescue a family member who was struggling in the waves. Unfortunately, Abu Haish was also caught in a rip and swept out to sea. Despite immediate efforts to locate him, he could not be found.

On Wednesday, the search for Abu Haish resumed, involving various rescue services such as local police, PolAir, Marine Rescue NSW, and the Westpac Rescue helicopter. Congo Beach is notorious among locals for its hazardous conditions, including persistent rips and a deep longshore channel.

The brother of the heroic teenager took to social media, asking for prayers as the search continued. He posted, “My brother Khattab Abu Haish, 19 years old from Sydney, Australia, is missing. He’s missing in the ocean in Congo – got caught in a rip. Just want everyone to make [prayers] that he’s still alive and his body is found.”

This incident adds to the growing number of drownings in Australian waters since Christmas Eve. On Tuesday, a 35-year-old man fell into the water while paddleboarding at Penrith Beach and vanished. His body was eventually found after an extensive search. As a result, the newly-opened beach has been closed.

Christmas Day also saw two separate incidents on NSW’s Central Coast. One man suffered a medical episode while in the surf at Copacabana Beach and was pronounced dead at the scene despite rescue efforts. At Umina Beach, a surfer died after being pulled from the water. Additionally, searches are ongoing for a man who went missing from Main Beach in Lennox Head on Christmas Eve.

In total, the number of deaths in NSW waters since Christmas Eve has reached at least five, creating a grim start to the holiday period. Authorities are urging beachgoers to exercise caution and follow safety guidelines to prevent further tragic incidents.

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