Man dies and toddler critical after being pulled from water

By Emma SiossianABC Mid North CoastTopic:DrowningsPosted Thu 12 Nov 2026 at 1:50pmThu 12 Nov 2026 at 1:50pm, updated Thu 12 Nov 2026 at 5:08pmThu 12 Nov 2026 at 5:08pmPolice and emergency service crews at Fishermans Reach on the NSW Mid North Coast. (Nakita Jager: ABC Mid North Coast.)A man has died and a toddler is in a critical condition after they were pulled from the water on the NSW Mid North Coast.Emergency services were called to Fishermans Reach, north of South West Rocks, about 10:15am today after receiving reports of a man and boy struggling in the water.Members of the public helped rescue the pair from the water and started CPR.Both were then treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics but the man could not be revived and died at the scene.Police say he is believed to be aged in his late 20s.The boy, described in a NSW Police statement as a toddler, has been flown to Newcastle's John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.Ambulance paramedics at Fishermans Reach, a small community in the Macleay. (ABC News)An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident is underway.The ABC has contacted the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) for an update on the condition of the boy.It advised that no information could be released about a person under 18 without parental consent.Local man Glenn Bishop lives near the site of the incident. He said he saw and heard several emergency vehicles go past this morning, and saw a marine rescue dinghy.Emergency crews were called to the scene this morning. (ABC News)"We are feeling very sad and numb hearing of the death, especially the young toddler … my partner was in tears when she heard about it," he said."We have a population of only 140 people here, so the news is devastating to the entire community, including Stuarts Point."Everyone knows each other here so it's going to impact all of us."Mr Bishop said it was "not a particularly dangerous stretch of river"."It's quite a protected waterway and a fair way from the river mouth," he said."Conditions on the river were calm this morning and there were many other boats out on the river as well."