Father's heroic efforts to save sons from drowning ends in his death

A 55-year-old father from Perth reportedly died trying to save his two teenage sons lives while they were swimming at Yallingup Beach in Western Australia.

“To him, they looked like they were struggling in the water, and unfortunately, he drowned trying to save them,” said South West WA Acting Superintendent John Bouwman, according to news.com.au.

“Like most parents do, they go to the aid of their kids when they‘re struggling, thinking they can save them.”

Bouwman said the dad raced into the water and that beachgoers and paramedics unsuccessfully tried to revive him afterwards for more than 30 minutes.

“The boys were just swimming straight off the beach like everybody else. They weren‘t doing anything stupid,” he told the website.

“I think it‘s inexperience in the water. A lot of people still don’t have those swimming lessons as a kid. And the dad had no real swimming experience.”

Surf Life Saving WA general manager Chris Peck said lifeguards weren’t on the beach at the time.

“There are not going to be patrols at six o’clock at night,” Peck told ABC.