Man drowns after being caught in rip in water at Happy Valley, Caloundra

A man has drowned after he and his wife were caught in a rip at a popular Sunshine Coast beach destination.

Emergency services rushed to Happy Valley, between Bulcock Beach and Kings Beach in Caloundra, to reports of a man unresponsive in the water. Picture: Patrick Woods

A man has drowned after being caught in a rip at a Caloundra beach.

Emergency crews rushed to the popular beach destination at Happy Valley, near Bulcock Beach, about 12.15pm on Friday to reports of a man struggling in the water.

Sunshine Coast chief lifeguard Trent Robinson said the 67-year-old man was swimming with his wife when they were caught in a rip.

Mr Robinson said the wife made it to shore however her husband did not make it back.

Members of the public alerted lifeguards who started a search, with the man found in the back break of the water.

He was brought to shore to awaiting paramedics however was pronounced dead at the scene.

The senior lifeguard said there were some rips at Happy Valley but advised that particular area was only surveilled by lifeguards on school holidays and weekends.

He recommended swimmers go to Bulcock and Kings Beach as they were patrolled with red and yellow flags.

“Even though it’s a 300m to 400m walk, we recommend making that walk and to swim between the flags,” Mr Robinson said.

A woman in her 50s was taken to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said they were also called to the scene.

Originally published as Man drowns after being caught in rip in water at Happy Valley, Caloundra