A hero dad has drowned while trying to save his 16-year-old son when he was swept out to sea during a fishing trip.
Police were called to Sugars Beach, in Murray Mouth, South Australia, at 8.40am on Saturday following reports a father and son were missing.
Emergency services scrambled to the scene while locals searched the ground as they desperately tried to find the dad and son, who disappeared during a fishing trip.
Fortunately, the boy managed to swim back to shore, where he was then rushed to hospital, but his dad was pulled from the water unconscious and could not be revived.
Max Partington, who lives in the area, told 9News the community was "feeling" for the young lad, and added: "Really selfless act from his father and tried his absolute best. We feel for him today."
Fisherman Peter Cucontis said: "I'd do the same. It's your child, I'm not sure he realised how dangerous it was."
"It's a pretty tight, close knit community and it'll have a huge impact, definitely.
"When you go to the mouth where the Murray [River] empties there's a massive rip and its strong and people just don't realise how deadly it is."
Another person said the boy was in tears and had no idea what was going on.
A spokesperson for Surf Live Saving South Australia said the incident was a sad reminder of the dangers of going into the sea poses when they are rough and unpredictable.
They said: "This is a beach environment, but we ask people to swim to your abilities. If you're not comfortable go in between the red and yellow flags."
