One woman has died, while three other people have been transported to hospital after 10 people were rescued from water off the rocks at a South Coast beach on Sunday afternoon.
Emergency services responded to reports of a group of 10 swimmers in distress at Surf Beach, eight kilometres south of Batemans Bay, at 2pm on Easter Sunday.
Members of the public as well as Surf Life Savers entered the water and brought 10 people to shore.
A woman in her 40s was treated at the scene before being airlifted to Batemans Bay Hospital, where she died a short time later.
One other woman was taken to Batemans Bay Hospital and has been released. Another man was transported to Moruya Hospital and was under assessment on Sunday evening, but doing well.
Another man was airlifted to Canberra Hospital.
A spokesperson for Surf Life Saving NSW said five of the 10 people eventually rescued were onlookers who entered the water attempting to help.
The remaining swimmers were assessed at the scene and did not require hospitalisation.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter and Surf Life Saving Australia Helicopter also responded to the emergency.
"When the helicopter arrived on scene, they radioed back and said there was multiple persons strewn all over the rocks, many persons face-down in the water," the SLSNSW spokesperson said.
"They could see Surf Lifesavers, trying to hold up members of the public in the water as well."
Lifeguards from nearby surf clubs including Batemans Bay and Broulee helped the rescue.
"We've seen multiple rescues right up and down the New South Wales coast, some again involving mass rescues at other locations as well," the SLSNSW spokesperson said.
"The public really need to heed that warning that you need to swim at a patrolled location and a patrolled location is anywhere we see those red and yellow flags that are flying because we'll have lifeguards and lifesavers on duty."
"If you do decide to swim in an unpatrolled location, it is going to take a lot longer to get around there if you find yourself in trouble."
South Coast Police District officers have begun inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the incident and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.
More to come.
