Tragedy as woman drowns at Werri Beach on the NSW South Coast

A woman has drowned at a beach on the NSW South Coast, despite the frantic efforts of a teenage surf lifesaver to help her.

The 66-year-old woman was pulled from the surf unconscious at Werri Beach near Gerringong, around 130km south of Sydney, at 9am on Saturday. 

The area of Werri Beach where the woman was swimming was not patrolled, but Surf Lifesaving NSW said that a 13-year-old member of the club pulled the woman from the water.

The teenager was not on duty at the time, but happened to be at the beach and tried to save the woman. 

Other members of the club and public attended to the woman before paramedics took over but she could not be revived and died at the scene. 

Officers from Lake Illawarra Police District also attended.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

The woman’s death comes as holidaymakers flock to the NSW South Coast for their summer holidays.

Gerringong locals took to social media on Saturday to express their condolences to the woman’s family.

‘So sad, saw lots of emergency vehicles on our way to the Gerringong Christmas Parade,’ said one.

‘So sad for the family right on Christmas,’ said another. 

Werri Beach is one of the top attractions in Gerringong, a town of 4000, famous for its spectacular coastline. 

It is a popular beach for surfing, fishing and swimming with a rock pool at one end and the southern point of the Kiama Coastal Walk at the other. 

Earlier this year Yuliya Pashkovska, 43, died at Pebbly Beach near Batemans Bay. 

Ms Pashkovska, a nurse at Wollongong Hospital, was caught in a rip at about 1pm on March 19. 

Two surfers pulled the nurse from the water and dragged her onto their boards.

They began CPR on Ms Pashkovska, before she was winched to shore by the Westpac helicopter.

She sadly could not be revived.