Woman found dead, man missing in surf at Sydney’s eastern beaches

A 25-year-old woman has been found dead and police are searching for another man missing in the surf at Sydney’s eastern beaches in a tragic start to New Year’s Day.

Police were called to Marine Parade, Maroubra, about 4am on Thursday following reports a person had been swept out to sea.

Officers were told a 25-year-old woman had been hit by a wave, knocking her into a tidal rock pool, before further waves carried her out into the ocean.

A body, believed to be that of the young woman, was dragged from the water at 5am. She is yet to be formally identified.

Just 4km north of Maroubra, an urgent search is under way for a male swimmer who disappeared in waters off Coogee Beach.

Footage has emerged of a police officer braving the rough conditions to aid the man, diving under waves fully clothed.

It is believed he and another man, who only had a boogie board, were unable to reach the young man after he got into trouble in the water.

A swimmer is missing and another person has died as double tragedy hit Sydney’s eastern beaches early on New Year’s Day.

The officer brought with him an inflatable rescue tube in the hopes of bringing the man to shore.

One witness said that onlookers noticed he was unconscious in the water and attempted to assist him.

It took just five minutes before the would-be rescuers had lost him in the ocean.

The man, believed to be in his 20s, went missing just after 6am, one hour before lifeguards were due to start their patrols.

Lifeguards patrol Coogee Beach from 7am to 7pm during summer.

Friends of the man and other onlookers have gathered on the beach as emergency services hunt for any signs of him in the rough water.

The Westpac rescue helicopter has done rounds of the beach for more than an hour, while two lifesavers on jet skis brave the swell in the hope of finding him.

At least 10 police officers are on the sand at Coogee as the search takes place.

Lifeguards from Randwick Council have closed all beaches in the area, including Coogee, Maroubra, Little Bay, Clovelly, and Malabar, saying: “We strongly advise against swimming; rock fishing and other coastal activities today.”

A New Year's day search is under way for a person missing in the surf at Coogee in Sydney's eastern suburbs

A hazardous surf warning has been put in place along the NSW coast by the Bureau of Meteorology, including for Sydney beaches.

“People should consider staying out of the water and avoid walking near surf-exposed areas,” the bureau said.

Surf conditions are “very poor” according to SurfLine

“Expect some big sets and close outs across exposed beaches for the morning due to the longer period,” forecaster Hugh McDowell wrote about Coogee.

Waves are expected to be about 1.7m high, while Coogee lifeguards have warned of “very large shorebreak today with high chance of flash rips”.