Hazardous surf continues to batter the coastline from South East Queensland down to the South Coast of New South Wales, with drownings on the Sunshine Coast and in the Illawarra.
Three people were washed out to sea at Kings Beach near Caloundra at about 6.15pm on Monday.
Two people survived but a 39-year-old man from Ipswich died.
The death is the fourth to occur in waters off the Sunshine Coast this year.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said paramedics performed CPR on the man but were unable to revive him.
Surf Life Saving Queensland regional manager Aaron Purchase said the man was unconscious when off-duty lifeguards and surfers brought him to shore.
"From there, resuscitation attempts were carried out [by] the lifesavers and a number of police and paramedics that arrived on the scene," Mr Purchase said.
"Unfortunately, those attempts were unsuccessful."
Queensland Police says a report will be prepared for the coroner.
The two other swimmers were transported to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital with minor injuries.
Seven NSW drownings in 6 days
On Monday afternoon a man aged in his 60s drowned while swimming in an ocean pool in Kiama, 120 kilometres south of Sydney.
Surf Lifesaving NSW has described the drowning as a "freak accident" where the man was swept out of the pool and into the surf by a large wave.
Attempts to save the man were hampered by the big swell and he died at the scene.
A NSW Police spokesperson said emergency services were called to the Blowhole Point ocean pool following reports that an unresponsive man had been pulled from the surf.
The spokesperson said witnesses commenced CPR on the man before paramedics arrived but he could not be revived.
Surf Lifesaving NSW chief executive Steve Pearce said the fatality has added to an already horrendous coastal drowning toll for NSW.
"This now takes the summer drowning toll to 23," he said.
"Really glaringly, we have now had seven coastal drownings in six days along the NSW coast, which is horrific."
Former Kiama jetboat driver Murry McMillan said the area near the ocean pool could be deadly during large surf conditions as waves surged over the rocks.
"If you are in the break zone it's really deadly," he said.
"You just have to respect it, get right away for half an hour and sit down and watch it before you enter it."
Hazardous surf warnings
A hazardous surf warning remains for Queensland Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast beaches due to ex-Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle.
The warning extends down to New South Wales with Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, Hunter, Sydney, Illawarra and Batemans Bay coastlines all impacted by hazardous surf and swell conditions.
Surf Life Saving Queensland and the NSW Police Marine Area Command advise swimmers, boaters and rockfishers to "consider staying out of the water or walking near surf-exposed areas".
Buddina Beach is the only Sunshine Coast beach presently closed, and Mr Purchase advises that lifeguards will "continually review and open or close beaches as conditions change over the day".
It was a "busy weekend" for lifesavers on the Sunshine Coast with almost 30 people rescued in the large swell, Mr Purchase said.
"We really can't stress enough to just stay away from the water outside of those patrolled hours, especially with conditions like this," he said.
"It's dangerous at the best of times, let alone when the conditions are bad."
Some beaches may be closed on Tuesday, Mr Purchase said.
"If you do get down to the beach and you see a red flag, please don't go swimming," he said.
"That does mean the beach is closed and it's closed for a reason."
