A man drowned while swimming at a beach near Kiama on the New South Wales south coast on Boxing Day.
The 52-year-old man was swimming with his 18-year-old relative at South Bombo Beach when they both became trapped in a severe rip at around 5pm on Thursday.
Beachgoers pulled both swimmers from the water and began performing CPR on the older man while they waited for emergency services to arrive.
Despite the frantic efforts of paramedics and the public, the man could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The 18-year-old was not injured.
The police will prepare a report for the coroner.
The 52-year-old man was swimming with his 18-year-old relative at South Bombo Beach (pictured) when they both became trapped in a severe rip at around 5pm on Thursday.