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WATCH: Somerset drowning press conference | video YOLANDE Scheffer of Somerset drowned while assisting her nine-year-old daughter who was experiencing difficulty in the waist high water, according to Tasmania Police. Off-duty volunteers from the Somerset Surf Life Saving Club came to the aid of Ms Scheffer, after she sent her elder daughter (aged 10) for help, said Sergeant Steve Jones of Tasmania Police, Western District. Sergeant Jones said it is understood that Yolande became submerged under the water while assisting her daughter. Yolande and her daughter were pulled from the water by lifeguards at which time she was unconscious. Lifesavers assessed Yolande's younger daughter and declared her ''fine'', Sergeant Jones said. CPR was performed by lifesavers until the arrival of ambulance officers. Yolande was conveyed to the North West Regional Hospital and was pronounced dead upon arrival. Tasmania Police expressed their thanks to the Somerset Surf Life Saving Club. "Although not on duty at the time, they responded immediately,'' Sergeant Jones said. Sergeant Jones said that conditions at the beach were fine and he could not confirm if there was a rip present. Sergeant Jones described lifesavers presence as ''very lucky''. Tasmania Police confirmed that Ms Scheffer was also the mother of a 14-year-old boy and was the divorced, sole-carer of the children. ''I have spoken to Yolande's husband [former] who advised us that she was a strong swimmer,'' Sergeant Jones said. Sergeant Jones described the current state of her daughters as "distraught". CPR was conducted on Yolande for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, according to Sergeant Jones. Tasmania Police were called at about 5.50pm, Thursday night.

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