A man who drowned in Lake Macquarie has been praised for holding a young child above the water after the duo fell from a kayak on Friday.
Emergency services were called to the foreshore at Gwandalan shortly before 5.30pm after reports a man had been pulled from the water.
Four NSW Ambulance crews, including a specialist medical team, were ultimately tasked to the scene.
Upon arrival paramedics treated a man, believed to be aged in his 30s, but despite their best efforts, along with those of bystanders, he was unable to be revived.
The young boy who was in the kayak with the man was pulled to safety.
He was assessed by paramedics and was physically uninjured.
"It appears the man has heroically held the young boy above the water when they've tipped over, saving his life," Inspector Andrew Craig said in a NSW Ambulance statement.
"It was a very emotional scene and bystanders had done an excellent job in rendering first aid to the patient before paramedics arrived.
"With the warmer weather fast approaching it's a tragic reminder of how dangerous the water can be and how quickly things can change."
Police are investigating the incident and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
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