The bay at Seventeen Seventy

A father and son on a family holiday to Australia have drowned after being swept out to sea.

The 46-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were swimming off the coast of , a beach town in Queensland.

It’s believed the couple are from Wales.

A 37-year-old local man was treated for “life threatening” head injuries after jumping in to rescue the couple.

Rescuers described the sea as “choppy, scary, and difficult”.

A helicopter scoured the rocky headlands for more than an hour before spotting the father and son.

They were pulled them from the water, but could not be revived.

Residents said they had deterred from swimming  because of strong winds, describing conditions as “choppy and scary”.

A spokesman for the Rescue 300 helicopter:

“It was a difficult mission.

“Multiple crews were tasked to the scene.

“Despite the best efforts of all involved, two people tragically lost their lives.”

Police said a report would be prepared for the coroner.

Wayne Mellock, a local surf shop owner, told ABC News:

“Situations like this are absolutely horrific.

“Our hearts go out to the families… and also the other man that was tragically hurt.”

Seventeen Seventy is a popular holiday destination, particularly in the run-up to Easter.

It is renowned for its pristine beaches and proximity to the southern Great Barrier Reef.

Mr Mellock added:

“We have a huge number of international tourists in our town.

“They love our beaches because we’ve got the best beaches in the world … but unfortunately they don’t realise how quickly things can change in the ocean.”