Man in his 40s drowns at Coffs Harbour beach

‘It happened in less than five minutes.’ A man in his 40s drowned at a Coffs Harbour beach on Saturday.

A man in his 40s has died at Park Beach.

Emergency services were called to the beach around noon on Saturday.

Surf lifesavers on patrol saw two swimmers get into trouble in a rip north of the patrolled area.

SLSNSW North Coast Duty Branch Officer Les Pepper said they entered the water approximately 300 metres north of the flags and quickly got into difficulties.

A man drowned at Coffs Harbour on Saturday. Picture: Frank Redward.

“The patrol has seen them and sent two people down - one (of the swimmers in trouble) got out by himself and the other they rescued on a board and bought him in,” Mr Pepper said.

They attempted resuscitation but unfortunately the man could not be revived.

He said the conditions “weren’t too bad” at the beach with a 1.5 metre swell.

“There was just a bit of a rip out there and they got stuck in that and they were obviously not good swimmers unfortunately.”

A man died at a Coffs Harbour beach around noon on Saturday. Picture: Frank Redward

He said it was a timely reminder to swim between the flags.

“We’ve got a patrol from nine to four today but people just walk down from the car park and jump straight into the water and that’s unfortunately what happens.”

He said it all took place very quickly.

Les Pepper. Picture: Frank Redward.

“It happened in less than five minutes.”

The NSW SES was called to retrieve the body.

The man is yet to be formally identified.

Officers from Coffs-Clarence Police District have commenced an investigation into his death and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

More to come