Father drowns while rescuing his teenage daughter at Back Beach, Black Head, NSW

A man drowned Tuesday afternoon trying to save his teenage daughter.

Tragically, a surfer who came to their aid could only save the girl.

It was the second such incident in a devastating start to the year for water safety in NSW.

Police officer Peter Stone drowned on New Year’s Day shortly after rescuing his teenage son from a “substantial” fissure on the state’s far south coast.

In the latest incident, emergency services were called to Back Beach in Black Head on the NSW Mid North Coast around 3pm on Tuesday after reports that a man had been pulled from the water unresponsive.

Emergency services were called to Back Beach (pictured) in Black Head on Tuesday afternoon after a man was reportedly pulled from the water who was unresponsive

Police said the 42-year-old went into the water after his daughter fell into a ledge on the beach, about 25km north of the town of Forster.

The man was then also caught in the crack.

A surfer saw what was happening and was able to bring the girl to shore.

Then he returned and took the man, who was now unresponsive, to the beach.

Members of the public performed CPR until paramedics from the NSW Ambulance arrived, but the man could not be resuscitated.

Manning/Great Lakes Police District officers were also at the scene and have begun an investigation into the incident.

A report is prepared for the state coroner.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the police.

Members of the public performed CPR until paramedics from the NSW Ambulance arrived, but the man could not be resuscitated. Pictured is an archive image of a NSW ambulance