Man Dies Trying To Save Sons From Surf

Illawarra Mercury

Friday December 12, 2008

A MAN has died after going to the aid of his two teenager sons when they began to struggle in rough surf on the South Coast.

The two boys managed to swim to safety but their father then got into trouble at Mollymook Beach, near Ulladulla, about 5pm yesterday, police said.

The 50-year-old man from Sydney was pulled from the water by other surfers but they could not revive him.

"We understand the father of the boys has attempted to rescue them or help them," a police spokesman said.

"They were ultimately able to get to safety, but it appears as though the father then has got into difficulty."

The police spokesman said it was unknown whether the man had drowned, or suffered a heart attack.

The drowning comes just three weeks after the death of Shane O'Neill and his two young sons at Tathra, also on the South Coast.

Mr O'Neill dived into dark waters and tried in vain to save his sons Riley and Travis when they fell from a wharf.