British man drowns in Australia after surfboard snaps during 80mph winds
Police and paramedics were called to Frankston Beach in Melbourne’s south-east (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A British man has drowned after his surfboard snapped in stormy weather at an Australian beach.
Police and paramedics were called to Frankston Beach in Melbourne’s south-east at about 5pm local time on Wednesday after people spotted two men struggling in the water.
A helicopter was drafted in to winch the pair back to shore, but both were unresponsive and could not be revived.
Neither man has been identified as police work to notify their next-of-kin.
They believe one, a 36-year-old British national, was surfing when his board snapped as the state was lashed by 80mph winds.
A 43-year-old friend of the surfer jumped into the water to assist, but both came into trouble.
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Victoria Police inspector Melissa Nixon said the surfer had ‘minimal experience’.
‘It appears he may have only been learning to surf,’ she said.
The British man’s surfboard is said to have snapped as the area was lashed by 80mph winds (Picture: Getty Images)
‘He was struggling in the water after the surfboard broke. He wasn’t experienced at surfing.
‘His friend obviously thought he was in distress and jumped in to help him.
‘The weather conditions yesterday were obviously not appropriate to be in the water surfing, whether you’re experienced or not.
‘It is a risk that you take that you put other people in danger.’
She added that a police tactical operator who was involved in rescuing the men from the ocean was treated for minor injuries in hospital following the incident.
‘He’s had to go in twice,’ Ms Nixon said.
‘As I said, they’re very experienced. They do this often.
‘Do not go swimming or surfing in conditions like this when we know that it’s going to be treacherous conditions.
‘You put yourself at risk. You put people that jump in to help you at risk. You put the emergency services at risk.’
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