Young woman found dead on Sunshine Coast beach

An off-duty lifeguard made a grisly discovery this morning after he found the body of a young woman washed up on a Queensland beach.

The body of a young woman has been found on a Sunshine Coast beach in an incident police are investigating as a potential late-night drowning.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said officers were called to Dicky Beach, near Neill St, around 5.15am to reports the body of a young woman aged in her early 20s had been found.

It’s understood an off-duty lifeguard made the heartbreaking discovery as the sun was rising over the popular beach, two hours north of Brisbane, this morning.

Sunshine Coast police made a brief appeal for public assistance to help identify the woman however she has since been identified.

“Preliminary information suggests the woman had gone swimming at an unknown location north of Dicky Beach where it is believed she then got into difficulties,” Queensland Police said in a statement.

“She is described as Caucasian, with a fair complexion, proportionate build and medium length dark brown hair and was wearing a two-piece black swimsuit.”

A report will be prepared for the coroner and officers are “in the sad process” of notifying the young woman’s family.

The young woman was found at Dicky Beach early this morning.

Police, paramedics and lifeguards removed the young woman’s body just after 6am Queensland time.

The police spokeswoman said the young woman’s death was not being treated as suspicious.

“Police are trying to identify her at the moment. It’s believed she’s gone for a swim at some point and things have gone wrong unfortunately,” the spokeswoman said previously.

Queensland Ambulance were called to the beach just after 5am to a reported immersion incident and referred all inquiries to Queensland Police.

The young woman’s tragic death comes less than two months after lifeguards found a South Korean tourist face down in the water at the same beach.

The man, aged in his 60s, was pulled from the water and lifeguards started CPR but he was unable to be saved.

#MAJORINCIDENT - Lifesavers at #DickyBeach have pulled an unconscious elderly male from the water 150m outside the flags. Lifesavers performed CPR and was handed over to QAS in a critical condition.

— Surf Life Saving QLD (@lifesavingqld) December 29, 2018

Lifeguards also conducted a major rescue on Christmas Day last year when three kids became caught in a flash rip at the Sunshine Coast beach.

#RESCUE - Lifesavers at #DickyBeach have rescued 3x 8yo females and 1x 11yo male caught in a flash rip between the flags. Keep and eye on your children and stay close to shore.

— Surf Life Saving QLD (@lifesavingqld) December 25, 2018