After 45 minutes of CPR an oversees holiday maker was declared dead on Willard Beach late this afternoon.

According to witnesses on the beach the man and his wife of four months were seen wading in the shore break at about 4.10 pm when they got into trouble and the tide swept him towards backline.

The lifeguards are apparently only on duty until 4 pm.

Responding to their cries for help, a man, who had been on the beach with his family, dived in while two surfers also paddled out to rescue the man in trouble.

IPSS Medical Rescue Paul Herbst, said the surfers loaded the unconscious man onto a surfboard but struggled to get him to shore due to the rough surf.

“Those young men did an incredible job bringing him to shore. Unfortunately we could not save him,” said Herbst.

The deceased was believed to have been in his 40’s, originally from Zimbabwe but currently living in England with his wife.