Kurnell Sydney drownings: Two women named as victims of freak wave that swept them from rocks as local Indian community mourns

A close-knit Indian community in Sydney is mourning the deaths of two mothers who were swept off cliffs and drowned while enjoying a picnic with their young families.

Indian nationals Marwa Hashim and Nirsha Haris have been identified as the victims of the tragedy, after the pair were washed off the edge of the cliff into the ocean at Cape Solander, a lookout point near Kurnell in Sydneysouth, about 4:30 PM on Monday.

Ms Hashim, 35, and Ms Haris, 38, were among a group of five walking along a cliff face when a ‘freak wave’ hit them and swept them into the sea.

Marwa’s sister, Roshna Hashim, was also swept away, but managed to clamber back onto the rocks and be helped ashore by bystanders.

Marwa and Nirsha were not only best friends, but also both mothers.

Ms Hashim arrived in Australia in 2017 to work as an architect, but in recent years has worked as a senior planner at Transport for N.S.W.

Her friend Ms Haris previously worked in public relations, Nine News reported.

Marwa Hashim (pictured right) and Nirsha Haris (pictured left) have been identified as the victims of the horror incident that took place on Monday at Cape Solander, a lookout on Kurnell in Sydney’s south.

Ms Hashim’s sister Roshna suffered minor injuries and was treated for hypothermia.

She was taken to St George Hospital where she remains in stable condition.

Two other bystanders were also treated for hypothermia.

The Sydney Malaylee Association confirmed the deaths of the two women in a heartbreaking Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon.

The Malayalee are an ethnic group originating from Kerala, a state in southern India.

“Sydney Malayalee Community is saddened by the gruesome and sudden death of two of our members Marwa Hashim and Nirsha Haris,” the message said.

“Sydney Malayalee Association extends our sincere condolences to the bereaved families.”

Friends have urged the Australian government to help with visas so their families back home in India can travel there to attend their funerals.

The Sydney Malayalee Association confirmed the deaths of the two women in a heartbreaking social media post on Tuesday. The photo shows Nirsha Haris

Nirsha’s best friend Marwa Hashim (pictured) also drowned in the long weekend tragedy

Emergency services, including paramedics and police officers, rushed to the scene and launched a large-scale search and rescue operation.

Three rescue helicopters searched for the duo before paramedics arrived.

The two women were pulled unconscious from the water, but could not be resuscitated, despite the efforts of emergency responders.

Bystander Rabih Yassinne is considered a hero after he helped pull Roshna from the water after Marwa’s husband asked him for help.

‘He came to me and said: please help, [he said] Please, people are drowning down there,” Yashinne told Nine News.

‘I got her out, it was very difficult because the wave was so heavy.

“We managed to get her out and she was unconscious.”

NSW Police Marine Area Command Superintendent Joe McNulty extended his condolences to the families and loved ones of the two women.

“They went there with good intentions to enjoy a holiday on NSW’s most beautiful coastline and stepped onto a wet, slippery rock platform and ended up being swept off the rocks by a strange wave,” Chief Inspector McNulty said.

He said large waves often crash against the rocks and the water exerts a lot of pressure, which can be dangerous for people visiting the popular viewpoint.

‘If a wave hits it [rock platform]The wave is rising and has a significant amount of extra force that would knock those people off their feet and drag them back into the water,” he said.

Emergency workers rushed to the scene to start a search and rescue operation. Bystanders are shown comforting each other after two women drowned

He warned people visiting the beach, especially those who are not confident swimmers, to stay close to the water’s edge and stand back if they want to catch a glimpse of the waves.

‘Never turn your back on the ocean. Always be prepared when you visit a rock platform, a beach or a location where there are large waves, be careful,” he said.

Cape Solander is a popular spot to glimpse humpback whales, which swim close to shore during the winter months.

A crime scene was set up in the area on Monday afternoon, after which the police started an investigation.

“No suspicious circumstances have been identified at this time,” the statement read.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.