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A mother has drowned in rough surf at a beach on the southern Gold Coast.
The woman in her 40s was swimming with her two children at Froggies Beach in Coolangatta when they got into trouble in the surf on Sunday afternoon.
The children were pulled from the water by a group celebrating a gender reveal party nearby, while lifesavers tried to resuscitate the mother.
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Witnesses at the party said they watched on in horror as the trio was swept into the whitewash at 3.15pm.
"They had just been getting smashed up against the rocks," one witness named Ashleigh said.
Several good Samaritans soon charged into the surf to help.
"We saw a mother and daughter start drowning," witness Medhi Balouch said.
"My brother hopped in and tried saving them. Saved the daughter.
"My brother-in-law hopped in as well. Got the daughter out and then went again for the mother."
Due to the rough surf, those who ran to help soon needed saving themselves.
Life savers sprung into action as their helicopter flew above the scene.
The good Samaritans were all pulled to safety and taken to hospital in a stable condition.
But by the time lifesavers reached the woman, it was already too late.
Froggies Beach is next to Snapper Rocks, one of Australia's most famous surf breaks, and well-known for its big swells.
It is an area of coastline not known for swimming.
The woman's death is the second drowning in the state today.
Emergency services were called to Currumbin Waters at 4pm and discovered a man's body in a creek bed.
Investigations are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
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