Shellharbour Beach, NSW: Horror as two British tourists drown at popular Australian beach after brave witnesses tried to save them

Two British tourists have died in a tragic drowning on the NSW South Coast. 

Emergency services were called to Shellharbour South Beach at Shell Cove shortly after 11am on Wednesday following reports that two swimmers were struggling in the water.

Beachgoers pulled a 66-year-old man and 64-year-old woman to the shore, where off-duty nurses performed CPR until paramedics arrived.

The pair were unable to be revived and died at the scene.

It’s understood that the pair were British tourists and at the beach with family members. 

More than a dozen emergency responders remain at the scene, where privacy tents were set up to shield the harrowing scenes from the public. 

The drowning sparked a significant multi-emergency response, including lifesavers and firefighters.

A rescue helicopter was also deployed to the scene but not required. 

It’s understood the two off-duty nurses who tried to revive the pair did not know each other and had been at the beach between shifts.

‘It was pretty calm, everyone knew what they were doing. It wasn’t a made panic, everyone just switched into what they were doing,’ a beachgoer told the Illawarra Mercury. 

‘It puts it all into perspective how quick things can go wrong.’

Another told the ABC:  ‘The police were here, the emergency services were here and then we heard the helicopter was on the way.’

It’s understood that the beach was not patrolled by lifeguards at the time.

Police are expected to provide more details later on Wednesday. 

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

The latest tragedy comes just days after two fisherman from Sydney drowned on the NSW Central Coast on the weekend.

More than 80 people have drowned in Australian waterways since December 1, according to Royal Life Saving Society data.