Sydney surfer dies after stormwater drain rescue amid wild weather

A surfer has died after he was dragged under a submerged stormwater pipe in huge swells during Sydney's dangerous weather.

The man, 44, was seen by witnesses struggling in rough surf at Collaroy Beach about 12.40pm.

Police and paramedics rushed to the scene to help with the CPR effort and the man was transported to Sydney's Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition.

He died this afternoon.

READ MORE: Surfer dies despite heroic rescue efforts

Carol Chaffer and son 12-year-old son Sam, both off-duty volunteer lifesavers at the nearby Collaroy Surf Life Saving Club, spotted the man in distress and rushed to help despite the perilous conditions.

"We were down the other end of the beach and my son said, 'mum he's gone under the pipe', so we came down and eventually he popped out the other side of the pipe," Ms Chaffer told 9News.

"Then two people jumped down and grabbed him, we pulled him out and started CPR."

Extreme weather hits NSW

A hazardous surf warning remains in place for the Coffs Coast, Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast for today and tomorrow.

Sydney and parts of New South Wales have been hit with torrential rainfall over the last 24 hours.

Residents on the flood-hit NSW South Coast are being warned to prepare for evacuation orders if rising water levels continue today.

Heavy rainfall over the weekend has caused major river level rises along the Shoalhaven River.

The NSW State Emergency Services has said the Shoalhaven River at Nowra is currently at 4.13 metres and peaking with near major flooding.

The Shoalhaven River at Terara is currently at 3.89 metres and peaking with near major flooding.

It said the flooding is similar to the devastating downpour of June 1991.

Based on Bureau of Meteorology forecasts, several communities will be impacted later today.

Evacuation orders remain in place for low lyihg areas of Sussex Inlet and low lying areas of Nowra, SES Assistant Commissioner Sean Kearns said.

But there was good news for residents of Moruya when the flood alert was downgraded and the CBD declared safe.

The NSW SES has received 1600 calls for help since Friday as wild weather lashes parts of the state.

More than 700 of those came from people on the south coast where authorities are closely watching the Shoalhaven River, which they say has reached its peak.

More than 550 calls came from residents across the NSW metropolitan area.

Emergency crews have had to carry out more than 40 flood rescues which they say is "unfortunate".

Meanwhile, thousands of homes remain without power after high winds damaged power lines.

A spokeswoman for Endeavour Energy said there were about 1000 properties in the Hawkesbury region without power and a similar number in western Sydney. About 200 homes on the South Coast remain without power.

Crews are carrying out repairs.

And Ausgrid said power is out for its customers in Watanobbi and Wyong on the NSW Central Coast.

A trough along the coast together with multiple low centres are bringing increased winds and surf to the Mid North Coast, Hunter, Metropolitan Sydney, Illawarra and South Coast areas, the bureau said.

Almost 300mm of rain fell on towns including Moruya, Nowra and Captains Flat at the weekend.

Evacuations have been ordered at the South Coast communities of Sussex Inlet, Moruya, Terara, East Nowra, Worrigee and North Nowra after a weekend of heavy rain.

NSW Transport Minister and Bega MP Andrew Constance said the South Coast community was being tested by the wild weather.

He told 2GB's Ben Fordham residents had just recovered from the bush fires earlier this year and the coronavirus clusters at local clubs.

"There was 260mm of rain in some areas over the past three days ... It has caused extensive damage, a lot of infrastructure takes a lot of battering," Mr Constance said.

Mr Constance there was hope flood damage in the town of Moruya would be limited after the river rose by 2.1m overnight instead of the forecast 2.9m.

He said officials will carry out an inspection in the town to assess damage and risk to residents.

Mr Constance said properties - including dairy farms - were cut off by flood water.

Mark Ethell, from the Moruya Waterfront Hotel, told 9News he had been urged to flee on last night.

"They said basically you need to get out — and we're the highest point in town," he said.

The NSW State Emergency Service has responded to more than 1000 calls for help.

Power has been knocked out to more than 100 homes and the SES has responded to more than 1000 calls for help.

Sydney and the Illawarra region are also in the eye of the storm.

In the southern Sydney suburb of Oatley a crane will have to be brought in to remove a tree which fell on a home last night, trapping its residents inside.

And caravan at Woronora was almost flipped over by an uprooted tree after severe winds.

Nursing home residents in Blacktown, western Sydney, were forced to evacuate when a tree fell on the building.

The wild weather has also disrupted train services.

At Carringbah in Sutherland Shire last night commuters were stuck inside a carriage for more than an hour after debris fell onto train tracks.

NSW Transport said services between Richmond and Riverstone in Sydney's north west are currently suspended due to a tree in the overhead wiring at Richmond. Buses are being arranged. Customers are advised to allow additional travel time.

And train services on the South Coast line are experiencing delays due to heavy rain at Coalcliff this morning.

Trains have been suspended between Thirroul and Waterfall due to a tree caught in the overhead wiring at Otford. Bus companies are being contacted to provide a replacement service between until train services can resume.

There are delays on roads this morning caused by storm damage and flooding.

Flood is affecting traffic in both directions on Tongarra Road between Croome Road and Terry Street. There is a reduced speed limit of 40km/h and motorists are urged to show caution.

A fallen tree near Bowral on Kangaloon Road, near Eridge Park Road, has caused the closure of the road in both directions.

Jamberoo Mountain Road, between Barren Grounds Road and Misty Lane, remains closed after a landslide. Motorists are advised to use the Illawarra Highway as an alternative route.

The Manly Fast Ferry services on Sydney Harbour have also been cancelled due to high winds and large swells.

A man died south of Canberra while kayaking in the Murrumbidgee River yesterday.

ACT Police said the man had been found at 6.20pm yesterday, and his kayak had been stuck under a bridge at Point Hut.

The river's water levels were high after extensive rainfall.

The wild weather is forecast to continue this morning. Damaging winds averaging between 60 and 70km/h, with gusts in excess of 90km/h, are expected to develop early this morning on the Sydney and Hunter coastal fringe and then extend to the Mid North Coast in the afternoon.

Damaging surf with waves exceeding 5m may cause beach erosion along parts of the South Coast and Illawarra districts. That damaging surf is forecast to then push north to Sydney and Hunter coasts this morning and eventually to Smoky Cape on the Mid-North coast this afternoon.

"Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas," the bureau said. "Surf conditions should ease in the south later Monday, but hazardous surf conditions should persist until Tuesday."

"Beach conditions in these areas could be dangerous and people should stay well away from the surf and surf exposed areas," the bureau said. "Surf conditions should ease in the south later Monday, but hazardous surf conditions should persist until Tuesday."

Evacuations have been ordered at Sussex Inlet and Moruya after a weekend of heavy rain.

Moruya's river was expected to break its banks at 2.9m last night.

"I'm actually concerned for a lot of the people that have been through the fires, the COVID, they're actually living in caravans, in tents right now," Mr Ethell said.

"(For) a lot of our low-lying areas around town, it's going to be pretty hard."

Weekend of wild weather

Up to 200mm fell on towns including Moruya, Nowra and Captains Flat at the weekend.

Across NSW's south coast, the Bureau of Meteorology issued seven flood watch warnings for areas including Moruya, the Shoalhaven, Bega, and Queanbeyan and Snowy rivers.

The SES has received more than 700 calls for help since Friday, mostly in the Illawarra and Southern Highlands region. There have been 18 flood rescues.

Authorities are urging residents to move vehicles under cover, secure loose items around their homes and keep at least eight metres away from fallen power lines.

Similarly intense weather has also been seen in large parts of Western Australia, where trees were brought down in Perth and boats were smashed together in Fremantle.

A powerful winter weather front caused chaos along the coastline yesterday, with wind gusts above 100km/h and flying debris blasting holes in homes.

The damaging winds were far-reaching.

The strongest were 109km/h felt at Cape Naturaliste, while Rottnest Island rocrded 108km/h winds and Mount Magnet 104km/h.

Afterwards, Perth had a 20mm drenching and Geraldton received 42mm in 24 hours, while Denham had a once-in-three-year weather event when it saw an entire month's worth of rain fall in a single day.

Emergency services have been called to more than 70 requests for help, mainly for water and roof damage or downed power poles, while hundreds of homes in Greenwood, Thornlie, Bayswater and Bibra Lake also had power outages.