A man has died in front of his young son after being pulled from the water at a beach on the NSW Central Coast.
Emergency services were called after a man in his 30s went out for a swim and got caught in a rip at Ettalong Beach about 2pm on Saturday.
Witnesses said the man’s 10-year-old son swam out to try to save him, screaming out for help, until a group of men on jet skis saw the pair struggling and pulled them aboard.
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One of the rescuers told 7NEWS the man was several metres from the shore when he got stuck.
“His son jumped in trying to help him but then his son started drowning as well,” he said.
“We pulled his son out of the water.
“I actually have no words, (it’s a) bit of a shock.”
Emergency services tried to revive the man but he died at the scene.
Witnesses told 7NEWS they held the man’s son, who told them he did not want that to be his last time with his father.
Ettalong Beach is not patrolled by lifeguards.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
– With Lucy Mcleod