A teenager has drowned and two other men have been hospitalised after running into trouble in dangerous surf.
The three were bodysurfing at Cumberland River Beach, just south of Lorne on Victoria's Surf Coast when one got into difficulty just before 6pm on Sunday night.
The two others tried to assist but also found themselves in trouble. All three managing to make it back to shore but then collapsed.
An off-duty Victorian police officer and a bystander tried to help before police and Surf Life Rescue performed CPR.
The 19-year-old man died at the scene, and police are preparing a report for the coroner.
A 20-year-old man was airlifted to The Alfred hospital where he is believed to be in a stable condition. The 25-year-old man was taken by road to Geelong University Public Hospital where he is also understood to be stable.
All three of the men are believed to be from the suburb of St Albans in Melbourne's west.
It takes the total number of drownings in Victoria so far this December to 19, with lifeguards reporting a much busier start to summer than they are used to.
Life Saving Victoria lifesavers and lifeguards have performed 102 rescues at patrolled beaches this month, compared to 30 rescues during the same period in 2021.
"After flood events have devastated communities across the state, people are flocking to our coastline to enjoy the water, which may have contributed to the higher number of rescues," LSV general manager lifesaving services Liam Krige said.
There were 19 reported fatal drowning incidents in Victorian waters between July 1 and December 25 this year. More than half occurred at inland waterways, 16 per cent in coastal waterways and 31 per cent at homes or other bodies of water.
"Any body of water can pose a threat so please, make safe decisions whenever you are in, on or around water, such as never swimming alone, ensuring children are actively supervised," Mr Krige said.
"Which means under-fives in arm's reach and under-tens in your constant and direct eyeline, wearing an approved lifejacket whenever boating or fishing and remembering alcohol and water-related activities do not mix."
