British woman dies after near drowning

A British woman has died after being saved with her family from almost drowning off the NSW coast.

The family of five were in the sea off Diggers Beach, Coffs Harbour, on Sunday evening when they got into trouble in a strong current.

Members of the public went to the family's aid and helped them back to the beach only for the 49-year-old woman to become unconscious.

Efforts to resuscitate the woman failed and she was declared dead at the hospital.