Two drowning deaths on New Years day at Australian beaches

Two men have died on Australian beaches in separate incidents on New Years Day.

Clovelly beach in Sydney.

Clovelly beach in Sydney. Source: SBS

Two men have died after drowning in separate incidents -- one at Sydney's Clovelly Beach, the other at Queensland's North Stradbroke Island.

Emergency services were called about 2pm to Clovelly Beach on Tuesday, with the a 34-year-old man pulled from the water unconscious and not breathing, a NSW Ambulance spokesman told AAP.

A doctor already at the scene attempted to resuscitate him but he did not respond to CPR or the use of a defibrillator to restart his heart.

Police confirmed shortly after 3pm the man had died.

Inspector Stephen Egbers from NSW Police said authorities are still working out what caused the death, considering the water appeared to be calm. 

"It's a person who is seemingly a good swimmer and comes here regularly," he said.

"We can only suspect that some type of medical problem has occurred."

Local officers will prepare a report for the coroner.

Man drowns at unpatrolled Qld beach

Meanwhile, a man in Queensland has died after drowning at an unpatrolled swimming spot on Queensland's North Stradbroke Island.

Paramedics were called to Frenchman's Beach at Point Lookout just before 12.30pm local time (1.30pm AEDT) where a man in his 40s was in a critical condition.

Despite paramedics working on him for more than an hour, he could not be saved.

A SLSQ spokeswoman said the man was "unresponsive" when pulled from the water and treated on-site by volunteer surf lifesavers before paramedics arrived.

The area between Frenchmans Beach and Point Lookout Headland was identified as a 2018/19 coastal blackspot.

"The incident serves as a timely reminder to always swim at patrolled beaches between the red and yellow flags," the spokeswoman said.

Police are investigating and a report will be prepared for the coroner.


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