A British man has drowned after his surfboard snapped during wild weather in the Australian state of Victoria while the friend who tried to save him also died.
Police were called to Frankston Beach, about 45km (28 miles) south-east of Melbourne, on Wednesday afternoon after receiving reports two men were in trouble in the water.
A police helicopter arrived within 15 minutes and the two men were winched back to shore but neither could be revived. The officer who retrieved the men was treated in hospital after swallowing water and later released.
Neither man has been formally identified as police are yet to notify their families. A report for each man will be prepared for the coroner.
Police said they had alerted the public to stay out of the water on Wednesday due to high winds, with the state experiencing wind gusts of up to 130km.
