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Girlfriend watches man drown to death in rip near Byron Bay

A woman has reportedly watched her boyfriend drown after he became caught in a rip at a beach in Far North NSW.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, was caught in a rip in waters at Tallow Beach, just south of Cape Byron Lighthouse, at about 12.40pm on Wednesday, the Northern Star reports.

It’s understood his girlfriend was on the beach watching as the man struggled in the water.

She raised the alarm and an off-duty firefighter from Brazil pulled the man from the water. The firefighter and paramedics performed CPR for more than 30 minutes but the man could not be saved.

A man in his 20s drowned at Tallow Beach on Wednesday after midday. File pic. Source: Google Maps
A man in his 20s drowned at Tallow Beach on Wednesday after midday. File pic. Source: Google Maps

Tweed-Byron Local Area Command Sergeant Jason Dowds said the man “was underwater for some time before he was dragged out”. He added there were plenty of bystanders on the beach.

Northern NSW Life Guard coordinator Scott McCartney said it’s possible the man was caught in a rip on the changing tide. He added Tallow Beach was prone to rips because of its exposure to swells.

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Earlier, a woman in her 70s had to be transported to hospital after struggling in water along the same stretch of beach just to the south at Suffolk Park.

It’s understood she swallowed water as she made her way to shore.

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