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Hero dad lays down his life to save drowning kids

A woman was treated for leg, pelvis and spinal injuries after a police car struck her.

A woman was treated for leg, pelvis and spinal injuries after a police car struck her. Photo: ABC News

A man believed to be the father of two children swept off rocks at a Wollongong beach south of Sydney has died in a tragic rescue attempt emergency services have described as “absolutely heartbreaking”.

Emergency services were called to Woonona Beach at about 5.40pm on Saturday following reports that several people had been swept into the ocean.

Witnesses told police the children were playing in the shallows when an undertow dragged them out of their depth.

NSW Police told AAP the man, along with several other family members, jumped into the sea to rescue two children.

They used jet skis and surfboards to help them back to shore.

The man, thought to be in his 40s, was pulled unconscious from the water.

Woonona’s golden sands and blue water hid a lethal peril. Photo: Andrew Harrower/Twitter

Paramedics worked to resuscitate him but he died at the scene.

NSW Ambulance said it assessed six adults and three children upon arrival and transported three of the children to hospital in a stable condition.

“No words can describe the scene we were faced with today,” NSW Ambulance Inspector Matt Sterling said.

“This is absolutely heartbreaking.

“The surfers and surf lifesavers that jumped in to save these patients are heroic. I can’t thank them enough.”

NSW Ambulance dispatched seven crews and two specialist teams via helicopter to the scene.

-with AAP

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