A man has drowned and two others have been taken to hospital after being rescued from the water at a Sydney beach.

The three men were swimming with friends at Shelly Beach in Cronulla when they got into difficulty in the sea.

Two were pulled from the water unconscious and were treated at the scene.

One of the men, who is yet to be identified, died at the scene while the other was taken to hospital.

A third man was also taken to hospital.

Police are investigating and will prepare a report for the coroner.

The fatality is the latest in a horror summer on Australia’s beaches as authorities warn people to swim between the flags and avoid mixing alcohol and swimming.

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Three hundred people were rescued from the water in NSW on Australia Day alone.

Royal Life Saving Australia estimates there have been more than 50 drownings across the country this summer.

Three in four of those who died were male, with the majority aged from 35 to 65.

There were 79 drownings across Australia last summer.

© AAP 2023

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