The man was stabilised and taken by road ambulance to St Vincent's Hospital in a critical condition, but a hospital spokesman said he died shortly after his arrival.

A spokeswoman for NSW Police said it was understood the man had been rock fishing before he was swept into the water.

It's believed the man was not wearing a lifejacket, she said.

The tragedy comes just two days after a likely triple drowning at Moonee Beach on the Mid North Coast of NSW.

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On Monday evening, six members of a large family group visiting the beach from western Sydney got into difficulty in a rip.

Three teenagers – two girls, aged 15 and 17, and a boy, aged 15 – had initially got into trouble, prompting the three older male relatives to attempt to help.

Two teenagers made it back to shore and a third was rescued by lifeguards. The two men who were brought to shore - Mohammad Ghouseuddin, 45, and Syed Rahath, 35 - could not be revived.

A third man, Mohammed Junaid, 28, was swept out to sea and is feared drowned.