Athletes help save 25 tourists in mass rescue at Sydney beach

Ironman and ironwoman athletes have helped with a mass rescue at a Sydney beach after 25 people got in trouble in the water.

The tourists were suddenly caught in a flash rip at Maroubra on Sunday, dragged further and further out to sea about 4pm.

In a stroke of luck, the country's top surf lifesavers were on hand for the Nutri-Grain IronMan and IronWoman Series.

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The weekend-long competition was wrapping up when the emergency unfolded.

Newly crowned IronWoman Lana Rogers was among eight athletes who spotted the large group fighting to stay above water.

"We just heard 'massive rescue' and lucky all of us were here still," Rogers said.

Inflatable rescue boat co-ordinator Rony Carle said they leapt into action.

"They reacted as lifesavers do, when the call goes out, we go into action," he said.

"The gentlemen I rescued goes, "It just happened so fast'."

Surf Life Saving Australia national sport manager Wayne Druery said they believe the rip developed quickly.

"We believe it was what we call a flash rip, which is a sudden movement of water," he said.

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No one was badly injured.

It's the second close-call on eastern suburbs beaches in the past 24 hours.

At Bronte Beach yesterday evening four people swimming after patrols had ended were pulled from the water.

An average of 98 people are being pulled from the water at Bondi Beach every day, surf lifesavers say.