A man has died, and a second man has been rescued, after their boat capsized while crossing the Tweed River Bar this morning.
Emergency services were called to the North Wall of the Tweed River about 6am, after two people were seen clinging to the upturned hull of a 6.5m half-cabin runabout boat, NSW Police said in a statement.
“A rescue operation was launched involving officers from Tweed/Byron Police District, Tweed Heads Water Police, Marine Rescue, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, and Surf Life Savers,” Police said.
“A man was retrieved from the water by Marine Rescue members and has been taken to Tweed Heads Hospital to be checked as a precaution.
“A second man was winched from the ocean by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew and taken to Duranbah Beach but was unable to be revived. He is yet to be formally identified.”
Police have been told the men launched the boat from the Kennedy Drive boat ramp a short time earlier and were heading out across the bar when the boat capsized.
Initial inquiries indicate neither man was wearing a life jacket, but investigations are continuing.
