Two people drown at Conspicuous Beach near Walpole while on holiday from Perth

A summer holiday in WA’s south ended in tragedy after two swimmers drowned — and another almost lost their life — at a beach near Walpole.

Police and emergency services answered calls for help at Conspicuous Beach in Nornalup, about 17km from Walpole, at 2.40pm on Saturday.

Three adults were pulled from the water in distress and when police arrived CPR was being performed.

Two of the trio — a 40-year-old woman and 44-year-old man — could not be saved.

A 42-year-old man was revived and taken to Denmark Hospital’s emergency department by St John WA, where he remains in a stable condition.

The three people were known to each other and it is understood they were on holiday from Perth.

Manjimup Shire president Donelle Buegge said the accident was an absolute tragedy, particularly at this time of year.

Conspicuous Cliff is about 100km west of Albany on a rugged stretch of the WA coast exposed to strong seas and massive swells.

A sign at the Conspicuous Cliff car park reads: “Be buffeted by salty winds at the coast, feel the raw unharnessed power of the ocean.”

During most of Saturday, the beach was subject to high 2.2m swells.

“Unfortunately it is a pretty rough coastline, but it’s summer and it’s warm and there’s no lifeguards there,” Ms Buegge said.

Ms Buegge admitted it would be impossible for lifeguards to patrol the 141km of coastline in the Manjimup Shire.

“It is a popular fishing beach and I’m surprised people were swimming there,” she added.

DBCA’s website warns that the beach at Conspicuous Cliff can be hazardous due to “large unpredictable waves and swells, slippery rocks and strong currents.”

Visitors are warned to pay attention and keep well clear of the sea.

In 2010, local surfer Michael Bedford was mauled by a shark at the beach and hospitalised with deep lacerations to his leg.

Missing hiker Rowan Wallace Cook also probably drowned a few kilometres up the coast in 2013 an inquest found.

Royal Life Saving research found that drowning cases peak during the summer months, with most occurring between Christmas and New Year.

Last summer 26 per cent of all Australian drowning deaths occurred during this period.

There have been 26 drowning deaths recorded since December 1.

“The festive season is a time for relaxing, social gatherings and celebrations, but we know this is the riskiest time to be around water,” Royal Life Saving Australia Chief Executive Officer Dr Justin Scarr said.

“So it’s also when we need to stay most vigilant around water.

“The dangers are heightened when people travel, visit unfamiliar locations, or celebrate near water, and the risk is highest on public holidays, particularly Christmas Day and Boxing Day, which consistently record the highest drowning rates.”

The tragedy comes as Surf Life Saving launched a new Beach Passport in a bid to reduce drowning deaths.

The passport is available in multiple languages and tailors information to different age groups.

It offers a quick lesson in water safety and helps swimmers answer questions like – “what are the hazards when you go to the beach? How do you actually identify what a rip is? And how do you keep yourself safe?”

A report into the deaths of the two simmers will be prepared for the coroner.