A British man drowned after his surfboard broke in stormy weather on an Australian beach.
Police and paramedics were called to Frankston Beach in Melbourne’s south-east about 5pm local time on Wednesday after people saw two men struggling in the water.
A helicopter was called to winch the pair back to shore, but both were unresponsive and could not be revived.
Neither man has been identified as police work to notify their next of kin.
They believe one of them, a 36-year-old British national, was surfing when his board broke as winds of 80mph hit the state.
A 43-year-old friend of the surfer jumped into the water to assist, but both ran into trouble.
Speaking to reporters, Victoria Police Inspector Melissa Nixon said the surfer had “minimal experience”.
“It looks like he just learned to surf,” she said.
‘He struggled in the water after the surfboard broke. He had no experience with surfing.
‘His friend clearly thought he was in distress and jumped in to help him.
‘The weather conditions yesterday were obviously not suitable for water surfing, whether you are experienced or not.
“It’s a risk you take that puts other people at risk.”
She added that a tactical police operator involved in rescuing the men from the ocean was treated in hospital for minor injuries after the incident.
“He had to go in twice,” Nixon said.
‘Like I said, they have a lot of experience. They often do this.
‘Do not swim or surf in these types of conditions when we know they will be treacherous.
‘You’re putting yourself in danger. You are endangering people who step in to help you. You are endangering the emergency services.’
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