Skipper's daughter, 13, dies after boat capsizes on river

The skipper of a boat that capsized on the NSW south coast is grappling with the death of his 13-year-old girl who drowned in the accident.

Three men and three children were in the 6.3-metre vessel when it overturned while attempting to cross the Moruya River bar at about 7am on Saturday.

The men aged 46, 29 and 18, and two other 13-year-old children, were rescued and taken to the local hospital for hypothermia, while one of the kids suffered a foot injury.

But the teenage girl's body was found in the up-turned boat.

Lifesavers from Moruya, Broulee and Batemans Bay Surf Life Saving clubs came to the aid of the Canberra group after receiving an emergency call out from a nearby boat.

Four were pulled from the water and returned to shore on their jet ski, with the fifth rescued by boat later.

The survivors raised the alarm about the missing girl, and although lifesavers performed CPR she couldn't be revived.

"The skipper of the boat was the father of the girl who was deceased," SLS duty officer Donna Wishart said.

"It's absolutely tragic. Our hearts are with the family and our lifesavers themselves have been offered counselling."

Ms Wishart said the boat had been heading out to sea in rough conditions and she didn't believe any of the group were wearing life jackets.

"There was up to two-metre swell along that coast today and there has been hazardous surf warnings in place for the last few days," she said.

Police are investigating the accident.