One man has drowned and another is fighting for his life after being caught in a rip in Sydney's south.
Emergency crews and lifeguards rushed to Cronulla's Shelly Beach off Ewos Parade on Saturday at about 1:50pm after three men got into trouble in the water.
Two were pulled from the water unconscious.
One man, 44, who hasn't been formally identified, died at the scene.
Another had to be revived by ambulance crews. He was rushed to St George Hospital in a critical condition.
A third man was taken to the same hospital after being pulled from the water and treated at the scene. He is in a stable condition.
The deceased is not known to the other two men.
This latest death takes this summer's drowning toll to 14 across New South Wales since December 1.
All the fatalities took place at unpatrolled beaches, with rip currents the number one coastal hazard.
Surf Life Saving NSW's director of lifesaving, Joel Wiseman, said the organisation was being tested.
"We are experiencing one of our busiest summers ever with huge rescue numbers, and our volunteers have put in a massive effort to try to keep people safe along the coast," he said.
"There are a combination of factors making this summer so deadly, including people taking risks, alcohol consumption, and crowded beaches which can lead beachgoers to seek out unfamiliar and unpatrolled locations."
Sutherland Shire police are conducting an investigation into the latest drowning and will prepare a report for the coroner.
