- A 22-year-old man has drowned at a beach on the Queensland-NSW border
- Lifeguards raced to help a group of nine people, believed to be tourists
- Swimmers were plucked from the water but one died Flagstaff Beach at 4.30pm
- Three others were taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for assessment, police said
A man has drowned at a beach on the Queensland-NSW border.
Lifeguards raced to help a group of nine people, believed to be tourists, who got into trouble at Flagstaff Beach at about 4.30pm on Christmas Day.
They made three separate trips into the water to pluck the swimmers to safety when it became clear others were also struggling and a mass rescue was required.
Despite extensive CPR, one man, 22, was unable to be revived.
A man has drowned at a beach on the Queensland-NSW border (pictured, emergency services at the scene)
Lifeguards raced to help a group of nine people, believed to be tourists, who got into trouble at Flagstaff Beach at about 4.30pm on Christmas Day
Three others were taken to Tweed Heads Hospital for assessment, a NSW Police spokesman told AAP.
The victim has not yet been formally identified.
Surf Life Saving NSW said the incident was the 17th coastal drowning since July and the rising figure was concerning.
CEO Steven Pearce said lifeguards put in a heroic effort to save the man’s life.
‘This tragedy reinforces why we are so determined to ensure that our safety messages are heard and understood,’ he said in a statement.
Surf Life Saving NSW said the incident was the 17th coastal drowning since July and the rising figure was concerning