Apollo Bay drowning, Marengo: Man dead, and two others are fighting for life in horror beach tragedy

One man has died and two more are fighting for their lives after being pulled unconscious from the water on a beach off Victoria’s Great Ocean Road.

The trio, who have not yet been formally identified, were swimming in the sea at Marengo near Apollo Bay when they got into trouble on Sunday afternoon, police said.

A woman who was passing by was able to bring the men to shore one by one as others on the beach attempted CPR.

“Despite their best efforts, a man was pronounced dead at the scene,” police said in a statement.

A man in his 20s was transported to Alfred Hospital. On Sunday night he was in a serious condition.

Another man in his 20s was taken to Geelong Hospital by ambulance in a critical condition.

The three men have not been formally identified.

The police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Four people died on an unpatrolled beach on Victoria’s Phillip Island in January in what was the state’s deadliest drowning incident in about two decades.

There were 55 coastal drownings across the country this summer, 19 of which occurred in Victoria.