Butcher Shane O’Neill, 28, drowned while attempting to rescue his two young sons, four-year-old Riley and 15-month-old Travis, after they fell into the sea from a wharf at Tathra on Tuesday night.

It is understood the rescue effort was hampered because the wharf’s life buoys had been stolen and not replaced.

The council’s general manager, Andrew Roach, said there was not a life-saving device on Port Macquarie’s public wharf.

“With the level of vandalism and theft in communities these days, it is a very difficult situation with no guarantee that life rings would still be in place when needed,” he said.

“We will consider any recommendations that comes from the Coroner’s investigation into the tragedy on the south coast.”

The Australian National Sportfishing Association manages the Angel Rings project which installs life buoys at known rockfishing black spots.

The entrance of the Hastings River at Port Macquarie is earmarked for one of the life buoys.

The life buoys keep the victim afloat and away from the rocks until help arrives or a rescue can be organised.