Two British tourists drown at popular Australian beach in front of horrified swimmers

A 66-year-old man and 64-year-old woman were pulled to shore by beachgoers, where CPR was conducted until paramedics arrived.

It is understood the CPR was conducted by off-duty nurses who were at the beach between shifts.

However, the two tourists died on the scene after attempts to revive them.

It is understood the pair were British tourists on the beach with relatives.

One beachgoer told the Illawarra Mercury that despite the tragedy, the professionals at the scene did not raise a panic.

The beachgoer said: "It was pretty calm, everyone knew what they were doing. It wasn't a made panic, everyone just switched into what they were doing.

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

Witness Tracey Lee said she saw the couple being pulled the pair from the water.

She told Australian outlet ABC the beach can be "deceptive".

Shellharbour's beaches have 170,000 visitors during the Christmas holidays alone, said Shellharbour City Mayor Chris Homer in 2024.

The Illawarra city, some 100 kilometres from Sydney, has a number of beaches both patrolled and unpatrolled.

Emergency responders remain at the scene, where privacy tents have been deployed to shield the death from horrified swimmers.

A rescue helicopter had been deployed to the popular tourist beach, but was ultimately not required.

A report is now being prepared for the coroner.

Police are expected to provide more details on Wednesday.

A record number of Australian drowning deaths were reported from August 2025 to August 2024.

Some 357 drowning deaths were recorded in the 12-month period, 27 per cent higher than the 10 year average, according to a report from Royal Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving Australia.

Royal Life Saving Australia has also reported that over 80 people have died of drowning since December 1.

Earlier this week a coroner confirmed that a Canadian backpacker died of drowning after being attacked by dingoes.

Piper James, 19, died in K'Gari off the eastern coast of Queensland after she set out to go for an early morning swim.