IT remains unclear how a man in his 30s drowned at south Newcastle Beach on Saturday afternoon, where he was pulled from the water about 1pm.
The man's family is understood to have been on the beach as life guards rushed to his aid.
Police and paramedics arrived on the scene at about 1.15pm after reports a man was in trouble in the water.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was also called to land at King Edward Park as part of the multi-agency emergency response, but despite the best efforts of paramedics and first responders, the man could not be saved.
Witnesses lined the headland and beachfront as first responders examined the scene. A clearly distressed lifeguard who appeared to have been involved in the rescue effort waited alone on the rocks near the body.
Emergency services remained on the scene until around 3.30pm, removing the body from the sand at the south end of the beach near the City's skate park construction site.
Police did not confirm a specific cause of death in a brief statement about the incident on Saturday afternoon, and said that he had not been formally identified.
The man's name has not been officially released ( as of 2pm, Sunday, May 21).
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
The details of this report are developing. It may be updated.
