Tragic end to weekend

A young woman drowned at Smiths Beach on Sunday night, in a tragic end to the weekend.

Police and emergency services were called to the beach about 6.40pm after reports of a woman struggling in the water.

It’s believed she was at the beach with family and one of them paddled back out on a surfboard to help her.

A police spokesperson said people on the beach helped bring the woman to shore, but she was unresponsive when emergency services arrived.

Police, ambulance and the local SES unit attended.

“Paramedics treated the 24-year-old Melton woman but sadly she died at the scene,” a police spokesperson said.

A Smiths Beach resident said a helicopter landed near St Bedes in Beachcomber Avenue around 8pm and three ambulances and police cars were already on site.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner on the incident.