Surfer killed at Sydney beach

A surfer has died after colliding with rocks amid rough conditions at Sydney's Tamarama Beach.

The 40-year-old man was surfing at Bronte around 1pm (AEST) this afternoon when he got into trouble, beachgoer Ralph Murdaca told ninemsn.

The 52-year-old bookkeeper was fishing off the rocks when he noticed a surfer become separated from his board and start heading towards him.

"I thought maybe he was stuck on my line or something because they (surfers) don't usually come that close," Mr Murdaca said.

"I honestly thought the guy must have had a broken leg because he looked like he was handling it at first but then he disappeared.

" I saw him right in front of me but I couldn't do nothing."

The accountant said he saw the surfer fighting to stay away from the rocks for at least half an hour.

Mr Murdaca said other surfers tried to help the stricken man and one of them even called out to him asking him to ring for help.

"I thought he got on top of the rocks at one point but then a wave came and hit him and he disappeared for a good three minutes.

The Randwick resident said police and ambulance took at least ten to fifteen minutes to arrive and spent up to 40 minutes trying to revive the man before he died at the scene.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner but the death is not being treated as suspicious.

Source: Ralph Murdaca, NSW Police

Author: Martin Zavan, Approving editor: Nick Pearson