A six-year-old boy who was on holiday with his family has died after he and his older brother were swept into treacherous seas off NSW's far north coast.
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The two boys were walking along the remote and unpatrolled South Ballina Beach when a giant wave swept them away about 1pm on Saturday.
Surf Life Saving Far North Coast duty officer Jimmy Keough said the older boy managed to cling to a break wall as he was carried out to sea by the wave.
It is believed the father rushed into the water to assist the boy and returned to find the six-year-old floating face down in the water.
Two fisherman heard the father's cries for help and pulled the boy from the water.
Paramedics attempted to resuscitate him and he was airlifted to Gold Coast University hospital, where he later died.
The father and older boy had suffered cuts from crashing into rocks and were taken to Ballina Hospital for assessment.
The boy's death came a day after five people were killed as severe storms hit southeast Queensland and northern NSW.
Mr Keough said the children had been wading in shallows close to the Richmond River break wall when the wave crashed onto the shore.
While a "freak occurrence", he said the storm front that had caused extremely rough conditions.
"We did see pretty dangerous and treacherous conditions over Friday and Saturday."
He said the family were visiting Ballina from Brisbane for the weekend and "just wanted to have a look" at the beach.
Well known by locals for its surfing, the long stretch of beach is not a particularly popular swimming spot, he said.
In 2010, parents Carole and Joseph Shelly drowned after being caught in a strong rip off the same beach.
Ms Shelly had swum out to help her struggling children but could not get back to the shore. Her husband then swam out to help her and was also caught in the current.
