A man has drowned after he got stuck in a rip while swimming with his brother on the NSW Central Coast.
The Parramatta man, aged in his 30s, was swimming with his brother near the patrolled area of Frazer Park beach on Sunday afternoon when the two men became distressed in the water.
A surfer in the water saw the man being pulled further out to sea and swam to try and hold the man up but a wave washed the pair of them onto the rocks, Surf Lifesaving NSW said.
When lifeguards reached them, the man's condition had deteriorated, and he was unconscious and unresponsive.
CPR treatment was immediately given but all attempts to revive the man were unsuccessful.
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Lifesavers managed to pull the other brother out of the water and he was treated by paramedics.
NSW surf lifesavers are urging beachgoers to be careful as they prepare for one of their busiest patrol days of the season, following a number of serious incidents on the state's beaches.
Surf Life Saving NSW says New Year's Day is traditionally one of their biggest days, and there's potential for situations to escalate, particularly at unfamiliar beaches.
The ocean's unpredictability was highlighted on the last day of 2017 when there were several serious incidents.
The man's death at Frazer Park beach takes the coastal drowning toll to at least 19 since July.
Volunteer lifesavers have performed at least 300 rescues during the six days of patrol over the Christmas break.
Chief executive Steven Pearce reminded swimmers heading to the beach on New Year's Day to stick between the flags, and to not enter the water under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
"Our number one priority is to ensure the safety of the beach going public, and while our volunteers and support teams will be ready in the event of emergencies, we'd ask the public to make the job of lifesavers and lifeguards as easy as possible by looking out for their own and others safety," he said.
