Hero swimmer dies trying to save six people swept out to sea - including his son - in horror rip at beach south of Sydney
A father has died while trying to save his son after six people including three children were swept out to sea off rocks at a popular beach south of Sydney.
Three children and three adults were washed out to sea after being swept off rocks at Woonona Beach near Wollongong on Saturday evening.
Emergency crews rushed to the popular beach about 5.40pm - where bystanders had used jet skis and surfboards to help the children back to shore.
The father, believed to be in his 40s, was pulled unconscious from the water in a critical condition.
NSW Ambulance paramedics tried to resuscitate the man but he died at the scene.
He was reportedly trying to save the children in the water after they got pulled out to sea in a rip.
NSW Ambulance paramedics work to resuscitate a man who was in a critical condition after being pulled from the water at Woonona Beach near Wollongong on Saturday evening. They were not able to save his life and pronounced him dead at the scene
The heartbreaking moment paramedics inform the man's family that he has passed away. One man cried and was brought to his knees by the tragic news. The man was reportedly a father who was trying to save his son, who had been swept off rocks
Paramedics treated a total of eight people at the scene, including one person who went into cardiac arrest.
The three kids were taken to Wollongong Hospital and are now all in a stable condition.
Distressing footage showed a paramedic pumping on the man's chest, while bystanders were pictured holding a white sheet around his body to provide privacy.
A group of worried adults and children were seen looking on in the sand nearby. It is believed they are the man's family.
Two paramedics then walk over to inform them the man has passed away, leaving them distraught.
One man cried and was brought to his knees as he placed his hands in the sand before another man took him for a walk.
Chaotic scenes at Woonona Beach near Wollongong after three adults and three children were washed out to sea on Saturday evening
The man's family sits on the left while paramedics work to resuscitate the man. Meanwhile, bystanders held sheets to provide some privacy
A woman was also seen wrapping her arms around a man's shoulders to comfort him while other family members hugged.
The family is believed to be from Claymore in Sydney's west and were visiting the beach on what was a hot day in NSW before tragedy struck.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Matt Sterling said it 'is absolutely heartbreaking' that the father passed away.
'No words can describe the scene we were faced with today,' Mr Sterling said.
'The surfers and surf lifesavers that jumped in to save these patients are simply heroic. I can't thank them enough.'
Bystanders held up sheets to provide some privacy as the man's body was transferred into an ambulance
A total of seven NSW Ambulance crews and two specialist medical teams in two Lifesaver Helicopters attended the scene
A total of seven NSW Ambulance crews and two specialist medical teams in two Lifesaver Helicopters attended the scene.
Wollongong Police have been told the children were playing in the shallows when they were swept out to sea.
It is believed the man who died had jumped into the water to saved his son but ended up needing saving himself in the choppy waters.
It is not known how the remaining two adults were also swept out to sea but they were reportedly also on the rocks at the time.