The 53-year-old man was swimming with his 13-year-old son off Boomerang Beach about 20 kilometres south of Forster about 2.50pm on Tuesday.

The teenager began to experience difficulties in the water and his father swam over to help, according to initial inquiries by police.

It is understood the boy was caught in a rip about 50 metres off shore.

Thanks to his father's actions the boy was able to reach land safely, but he then found himself in dire need of assistance.

Surf lifesavers and paramedics attempted to resuscitate the man but they were unable to revive him.

The man was a father of six.

Detectives from Manning Great Lakes Local Area Command are investigating the events leading up to the man's death and will prepare a report for the coroner.

It's the second drowning in 16 days at the beach, following the disappearance of a 22-year-old Orange man, Terry Brown, whose body has not been recovered.

*/ ]]>