Tragic Double Drowning: British Surfer and Rescuer Die During Severe Melbourne Storm

The two men involved in the tragic incident have not yet been formally identified.

Melbourne:

Police reported Thursday that a surfer and his friend who attempted a rescue both perished in stormy conditions off Melbourne's coast in Australia.

The tragedy unfolded Wednesday evening near Frankston Pier in southern Melbourne during severe weather conditions with wind gusts reaching 130 kph (81 mph), according to authorities.

Detective Inspector Melissa Nixon stated that a 36-year-old British expatriate living in Frankston suburb had decided to surf despite the dangerous weather. His surfboard broke during the incident, though the exact circumstances remain unclear.

The surfer's 43-year-old friend, a local Frankston resident, witnessed the emergency and jumped in to help.

"The surfer was clearly in distress and struggling in the water after his surfboard broke. He wasn't an experienced surfer. His friend saw he was in trouble and immediately entered the water to assist him," Nixon explained to reporters.

A police helicopter rescue team retrieved both men from the water, but resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful.

One emergency responder was hospitalized overnight after ingesting "a large amount of water" but was released Thursday, according to Nixon.

Formal identification of the two deceased men is still pending.

Nixon emphasized the importance of avoiding water activities during unsafe conditions.

The powerful storm caused widespread damage across Melbourne and Victoria state, with fallen trees and branches leading to thousands of power outages affecting homes and businesses.