The man managed to get his two boys on to a surfboard and they were taken to safety, but attempts to revive him failed.
Emergency services at the scene on Burrill Beach. Pic: 9News
A British man has died after rescuing his two sons who were caught in a rip tide at a beach on Australia’s east coast.
The 44-year-old was with his family at Burrill Beach, about 150 miles south of Sydney, when the incident happened at around noon on Friday.
The man lifted his sons onto a surfboard before onlookers ran into the water and brought them to safety.
He was then overcome by waves and was unconscious by the time emergency services arrived.
Police and paramedics tried to revive him on the beach. He was pronounced dead on arrival at Milton Hospital.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We can confirm a British national died on January 10 on Burrill Beach in Australia.
“We stand ready to provide consular assistance at this difficult time.”
A statement from New South Wales Police Force said: “Emergency services were called to Burrill Beach just after midday, where they found a man unconscious.
“The 44-year-old was taken to Milton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
“Officers from Shoalhaven Local Area Command attended and were told the man, a British tourist, got into difficulty after attempting to rescue his two sons who were caught in a rip. His sons were not injured.”
It was the second drowning on the beach in two months, after a Filipino national died there in December.
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