PHILLIP ISLAND DROWNING TRAGEDY:
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* Four people died after being pulled from the water on an unpatrolled Phillip Island beach Wednesday afternoon
* Off-duty lifeguards managed to pull three people from the Forrest Caves waters, with the fourth person rescued by boat
* All four were unconscious and unresponsive, requiring CPR from Life Saving Victoria and Ambulance Victoria respondents
* A 20-year-old woman, a 23-year-old man, and a 43-year-old woman died at the scene
* A third woman, aged 20, was flown to the Alfred Hospital in a critical condition but later died
* The High Commission of India in Canberra confirmed all four victims were from an Indian background
* The drownings mark Victoria's worst single beach tragedy in 20 years
* The state's drowning toll is now 19 since December 1
* The extended family group of four decided to swim in waters "known for rips and treacherous conditions", Eastern Region assistant commissioner Karen Nyholm said
* Their family connection is still unclear as next of kin were being notified, but the trio in their 20s were from Clyde in Melbourne's southeast, while the woman in her 40s was holidaying in Victoria
* The incident occurred off Newhaven, situated four kilometres between lifeguard-patrolled sites at Smiths beach and Woolamai surf beach
* Police understand the group were wading in an area of water only accessible past rock pools at low tides
* Life Saving Victoria's Tim Cook said the tragedy provides a reminder that water safety is more than just rescue and about trying to prevent rescues from even happening in the first place
* The two off-duty lifeguards who were involved in the rescue will be offered support
* Victoria Police will provide a report for the coroner.
Australian Associated Press