Publisher drowns at Tamarama

The surfer who died at Sydney’s Tamarama beach on Wednesday has been identified as publisher Matthew Richell.
Richell, who was chief executive of publisher Hachette Australia, died after he was swept onto the rocks while surfing, according to a Sydney Morning Herald report.
Richell and his wife Hannah, who has written the books Secrets of the Tides and The Shadow Year, moved to Sydney from Britain with their two young children.
Police say that the 41-year-old was surfing with a friend at Bronte Beach when they were carried toward Tamarama and washed into a dangerous area known as “The Twins”.
A jetski was on its way from Bondi to rescue him, but he sustained a head injury after a wave knocked him onto rocks and could not be revived.
The CEO of Hachette UK Tim Hely Hutchinson issued a statement expressing his condolences to the Ritchell family.
“With great sorrow, and in shock, we have to announce the death of our beloved friend and colleague, Matt Richell, CEO of Hachette Australia and Chairman of Hachette New Zealand, who was tragically killed in a surfing accident … our thoughts and most heartfelt condolences are with Matt’s wife Hannah, his family, his colleagues and many friends in publishing and more widely.”