British national dies in rough surf at Australian beach

23 Oct 2025 • 1:51 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • A 36-year-old British national and his 43-year-old friend died in rough surf at Frankston Beach in Melbourne, Australia, on Wednesday.
  • Emergency services were called around 5pm local time after reports of two men in trouble in the water, with a police helicopter assisting in their retrieval.
  • Police believe the British national, who had minimal surfing experience, was surfing when his board snapped due to heavy winds of up to 130kmph.
  • His friend jumped into the water to assist him, but both men subsequently got into difficulty and could not be revived.
  • Victorian Police Inspector Melissa Nixon warned against swimming or surfing in treacherous conditions, highlighting the risks to individuals and emergency services.

IN FULL