Overview
- Victoria Police said a 36-year-old British man with minimal surfing experience got into distress when his board snapped in rough seas near Frankston Pier.
- A 43-year-old friend jumped from the pier to try to rescue him; both were found unresponsive and winched to shore by a police Air Wing helicopter around 5 p.m. but could not be revived.
- A tactical flight officer who entered the water twice during the recovery was treated in hospital after swallowing water and has since been released.
- Formal identification of the men is still pending as police notify next of kin, and reports will be prepared for the coroner.
- The deaths occurred during a deep low-pressure system that brought gusts up to about 130 km/h across Victoria, prompting power outages and renewed scrutiny of local lifeguard coverage and beach safety measures.