Yep, pretty soon we'll all have someone to hold our hands wherever we go. We have to make decisions on risk every day of our lives so why should we have to pay for someone else's poor missjudgement. Better put warning  signs up every twenty metres along everywater way and beach if this gets up. What a joke!!

Tragedy that they died and the families are without them, but there are signs there and if you can't swim it's a foolish idea to go across.

Surprised they don't just dredge the sandbar and ban landing on the island, that seems to be the norm with a hazard in this state

They probably can't read the signs anyway.

Bit like the Bondi rescue show... you don't see too many Aussies drowning!

Could be right, seems they're newly from India

Common sense about not being able to swim but walking out on the ocean should prevail

But unfortunately, stupid people must die. 

Yeah these people were tourists weren't they. Its not like they cant read, many choose to ignore warnings cause they think it will never happen to them, and when it does everyone loses their minds. Ive been to this place and there are signs clearly saying that crossing the bar is dangerous, using common sense it would be dangerous at any time, especially when u are crossing with kids.

I was born in india and came here when I was 8, let me tell u, not many people have the ability to swim in oceanic conditions in india, most swim in rivers which don't have strong tidal movements and currents.  they think all water bodies will be the same and sadly as a result have to face the consequences.

I think its pretty stupid to sue the government over this, as u guys have said we don't want this place becoming a nanny state. As my parents say people don't want to change their habits and ways of life when they come to a new country, if this happened in india, they wouldn't have been able to sue the govt. It sickens me to see such people from my home country doing the wrong things and then wanting compo, its a dam disgrace.

Tragic deaths and I feel sorry for the kids growing up without a dad, but did I read right in that it was the wives who were in trouble, and the husbands died saving them? And now the wives are suing the government? 

Can you imagine the amount of dollars that goes towards this sort of litigation? And not to mention if there is a payout involved...

We are a lucky country indeed.  

we tax payers are footing their legal bill in the form of legal aid aswell.

Unfortunately humans are the only ones whose survival is no longer a result of natural selection or survival of the fittest.

Not having a brain is apparently the fault of others.

I personally blame all these OH&S muppets who come up with ludicrous precautions and procedure as a means to justify their grossly overpaid positions.

I have walked over a few times many years back but always checked to suss the tides out and weather conditions.

Now its just better to get the ferry...$12 return , cheap as and not so tired after all the walking at the end of the day

Really FFS if you can't swim don't go in the FKN water.

How is this possibly someone else's fault?  

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=b49_1371892747

You feel for the families but why did the guys walk when there is a ferry?  ive heard and read so many different versions of what happened.  

Yep ferry was running that day and had already saved a couple people just before that happend.  

There lawyer ( insert swear words) states its the goverments duty of care to ensure that

there is no risk to people in the area!

This is just the sort of legal crappolla that shuts down areas, shuts down activities, and pisses off the people

whom have been using the areas for years and years, whilst managing there own risk and taking some god dam

personal responsibilty.

All the while tourists , new aussies etc who use a area once ( think tourists falling/ nearly falling into the gap, Albany etc)

then shoot the blame elsewhere, get a  judgement awarded and in response govt , locks area up and throws away the key, f;;;;g it up for the majority.

Just great, being paying  taxs for 30 years and all I ask is somewhere to unwind and relax with the kids , enjoying the outdoors

and some bloody lawyer helps to stuff it up.

I bet our taxes are paying the lawyer fees too!!

when this terrible accident happened, that they did take the ferry to the island but decided to walk back in the afternoon.

I think that will be the down fall of the law suit, as their was a ferry running and they took the ferry there but decided not to on the return. 

I feel for the children growing up without their fathers but no amount of money will bring the fathers back.  Greed is the word.

I love how these new Australians can get legal aid (if so) yet when I wanted legal aid I earned $10 over the limit, yet I was supporting two children and working my ring off before I met old fart.

There is plenty of signage down that way.  People say it should have been in different languages, well HELLO we speak English and live in a english speaking community/country.

Let's hope sanity prevails and the Proportionate Liability legislation will find that irrespective of the governments action that they were personally responsible.

Agree with all comments above, if this gets up we could see everywhere/everything closed to access.

 I also live in the area,and since I was a kid have walked the Bar heaps of times. I have also seen and heard of lots of unreported rescue's carried by surfers coming back from the backbeach,they risk there own lives trying to help these people who literally walk off the edge of the sandbar.

These people when walking back to the mainland,do not follow the natural curve of the sandbar. Instead they look at the jetty on the mainland,and use that as a reference. Usually the seabreeze is in,the water is choppy and visibilty is poor,and the end result is that they walk into deep water. Try doing that with a kid on your shoulders,or carrying heaps of crap in your arms.Panic sets in very quickly.

They read the signs and ignore them.

Agree 100%, if you can't swim you shouldn't be there. Walked that bar hundreds of times from when I was about ten years old, never once had a problem. Seen plenty of non swimmers get into trouble though.

In defence of the families, it might not be there desire to sue. I have heard of similar situations where the life insurance company makes them sue to get a payout (check the fine print, I think they only have to pay when "all other avenues/claims have been pursued")

I don't know this for a fact, but would hazard a guess this could be the case.

Condolences to the family.

BD

Was there on the day.

Was coming back from Seal Island with my son late arvo, and saw heaps of people crossing in pretty chopped up water with a running tide.

Was quite difficult to maintain direction with the motor trimmed up, and impossible to use any speed.

Saw this dude go off the edge 30-40m off to one side, and decided he was in serious strife. Got to him in time, and rescued this tiny little Irish backpacker whose tall girlfriend was watching him from the shallow part, slowly sinking for longer and longer at a time.

Picked him up in my boat, then his girlfriend, and took them to shore.

When we again got under way, had to cross in the shallows right near the shore, to get to Carlisle St ramp, and whilst idling along, I commented to my son about a group that had been swept off about 100m out.

I was going to go out there, but then saw the ferry divert to where they were, even so, I had said to my son, "where's the fourth, there was four heads at the first.

Got home, and my neighbour told me what had happened, which he'd just seen on the news. Sickening feeling :(

Pretty sure the Irish guy said that he got washed off because he didn't want to let go on an airtight bag with a towel or something inside. He was still clasping onto a single thong when I pulled him on board.

Makes you wonder whether carrying something buoyant in a situation like that is a good, or bad idea.

Regards,