A woman in her 40s has died after being pulled from the water at Coolangatta on Queensland's Gold Coast.
Paramedics responded to reports a woman and a young girl were in trouble in big surf at Rainbow Bay at around 3:15pm on Sunday.
Three men jumped into the water in a rescue attempt.
The brother of one of the rescuers described a chaotic scene when he spoke to the ABC.
"They were screaming and my brother realised, and he quickly just jumped in, got the daughter out, and went again for the mother," he said.
The other two men became stuck in the surf themselves while attempting to rescue the woman.
Lifeguards were able to bring all five people to shore.
Paramedics attempted to resuscitate the woman, but she died at the scene.
Authorities say the girl and two men in their 30s were taken to hospital.
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
