A dad has drowned after attempting to rescue his 11-year-old daughter who was swept out to sea at a beach in New South Wales.
The family, including three children, were at Lennox Head and enjoying the beach when the 11-year-old drifted out to sea on a bodyboard, said police.
It led to the dad, aged 45, swimming out and trying to help her before getting into trouble himself at around 6.30pm local time last Wednesday.
A police report confirmed that the man and his wife swam out to their daughter, and while the mother was able to bring the child safely back, the father did not make it to shore.
Two police officers, who rushed to the scene, entered the water but could not find the man and then around 30 minutes later - at 7pm - his body was retrieved by surf lifesavers.
Paramedics carried out CPR on the father-of-three but sadly he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Meanwhile, the woman and her daughter were treated by paramedics and were allowed to go home without needing hospital care.
An investigation into the incident is under way, and New South Wales Police are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to contact them at 1800 333 000 or nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.
A police statement said: "A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner."
The beach did not have lifeguards when the incident happened and Jimmy Keogh from Surf Life Saving NSW said young lifesavers training nearby retrieved the man.
"They managed to recover the 45-year-old that was submerged in the water and bring him to shore," he told ABC News. "Unfortunately, the male wasn't able to be revived."
Steve Pearce, chief executive of Surf Life Saving NSW said that it was the 10th coastal drowning in the state so far this summer, and the third involving a parent going to the aid of their child.
"It's completely understandable that, as parents, we would go to the aid of our kids in trouble without question," he said. "Sadly though, it so often ends in tragedies like this."
