A woman has died and a child has been rescued after they were both sucked into the sea into a rip on a NSW beach.
Emergency services were called to Park Beach in Coffs Harbor at around 5.20pm on Tuesday and were told that a 50-year-old woman had been swimming with a young relative when they were swept out to sea.
Park beach in Coffs Harbour
The child was rescued and brought safely to shore, but the woman was found unconscious in the water a short time later.
She was taken to the beach and attempts were made to revive her, but they were unable to revive her.
NSW Ambulance said a third patient also suffered minor injuries after swallowing water and was taken to Coffs Base Hospital for observation along with the rescued child.
Officers have cordoned off a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police will prepare a report into the woman's death for the coroner.
The woman is the fifth person to die in NSW waters over the holiday period.
According to Royal Life Saving Australia statistics, there were 35 drowning deaths across the country in December.