Water safety warning after horror weekend of drownings in Victoria and NSW

Three men and a seven-year-old boy have died in separate drowning incidents this weekend in Victoria and New South Wales, prompting authorities to urge people to take care near the water.

Police say he got into difficulty and disappeared in the river at about 6pm, leading to a large search effort involving police helicopters, divers and SES.

A body, believed to be the missing boy, was found on Sunday morning.

Three swimmers got into trouble in rough waters east of the mouth of the Gellibrand River about 10.40am.

They were rescued from the water, however a 35-year-old man died at the scene.

Two men on a private helicopter flying nearby landed their aircraft and helped to retrieve the swimmers from the river and perform CPR on the man.

In NSW, two rock fishers have drowned after being swept into the water.

About 12.50pm on Sunday police and emergency services were called to Windang Island after reports of a man in distress in the water.

The body of a 21-year-old man was located about 1.20pm and winched from the water by helicopter.

On Saturday afternoon, emergency services were called to Turimetta Beach at Warriewood after reports a rock fisher had been pulled unconscious from the water by surfers. The 53-year-old man died at the scene.

Police said they will prepare reports for the coroner.

Surf Life Saving NSW CEO, Steve Pearce said the recent incidents were a timely reminder of how dangerous the water can be.

A number of people were also rescued on Sunday, including two fishers whose boat capsized at Maroubra about 8.30am on Sunday, and a group of people whose jet skis rolled in rough seas off Point Danger just after 12.30pm.

NSW Marine Area Commander Supt Murray Reynolds said the deaths were tragic.

Police and Surf Life Saving NSW urged people who cannot swim not to go into the water, swim at patrolled locations and wear a lifejacket on a boat or while fishing.