By KYLIE STEVENS, SENIOR BREAKING NEWS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA

Published: 09:14 GMT, 10 January 2026 | Updated: 09:28 GMT, 10 January 2026

A young international tourist has drowned in front of shocked beachgoers after he was caught in a rip at a popular beach on the Gold Coast.

Emergency services raced to Palm Beach near 21st Avenue at about 4.15pm following reports a man had been swept away in the water.

A helicopter was deployed to assist in the search for the missing swimmer, along with surf lifeguards.

The man, aged in his 30s, was located unresponsive by lifeguards and pulled to the shore.

Paramedics performed CPR but the man couldn't be revived.

A woman in her 20s was also rescued from the water.

She was in a stable condition and did not need to be hospitalised.

The tragedy unfolded in front of large crowds of beachgoers enjoying the 28C weather.

An international tourist drowned at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast on Saturday afternoon

A police helicopter was seen circling the beach during the search

'They saved the lady and tried so hard to bring the man back,' a local posted online.

'The poor relatives were on the beach too.

'All that tried to help him are heroes.' 

Another added: 'They worked on him a while after pulling him out.'

It's the latest in a spate of tragic drownings this summer, including a four-year-old boy who drowned in a pool near Port Stephens in the NSW Lake Macquarie region on Friday night.

At least 30 drownings have been recorded across Australia since December 1.