Newtown man, 52, dies after being pulled from water at Thirteenth Beach

Shocked witnesses have recounted how a 52-year-old Geelong man was pulled from the water in a tragic surfing death at Thirteenth Beach.

A man has died at Thirteenth Beach near Barwon Heads. Photo credit: Nine.

A surfer has died after his leg rope was reportedly caught on rocks at a popular surf beach on Thursday morning.

Fellow surfers tried desperately to revive the 52-year-old Newtown man but their attempts were to no avail.

He died at the scene.

Emergency services confirmed they rushed to Thirteenth Beach, near Barwon Heads, about 11.50am.

The Beacon surf break on Thirteenth Beach Rd is popular with surfers. Photo: Nine.

A witness said the man had been coming into shore from the Beacon surf break when his leg rope got caught in seaweed and rocks.

It’s understood a group of other surfers managed to pull him loose and tried to revive him. “It is just so heavy,” the witness said. “Everyone down here can’t believe it. The conditions are perfect.”

Another man, who was surfing at the time, said the deceased’s board was put on the roof of a police vehicle.

The popular surf break is on Thirteenth Beach Rd near the Bellarine Peninsula town.

Several surfers remained in the water on Thursday afternoon enjoying the offshore conditions.

Beacon point on Thirteenth Beach is popular with surfers. Picture: Alan Barber

A Victoria Police spokesman said the surfer’s death was not being treated as suspicious.

Others took to social media to process the tragedy.

“I was there, but not involved with the rescue,” Steve Hartshorne said.

“The boys did a great job checking on everyone who was around.

“They are to be commended for keeping cool and doing what they could.”

Another concerned mum said her son was in the surf alongside the man shortly before his death.

The scene near where a surfer died at Thirteenth Beach near Barwon Heads on Thursday. PHOTO: Lucy Crock.

He had been left “shaken up” but was “doing OK”, she said. “There’s a lot of shaken up guys who attended the scene who tried so hard to save this man’s life,” she said.

“It’s a very tragic outcome for all involved and we are completely devastated for the man and his family.”

The beach is not patrolled by Life Saving Victoria.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

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Originally published as Newtown man, 52, dies after being pulled from water at Thirteenth Beach