Woman dies after helping a boy swept off rocks in northern NSW

The woman, believed to be a relative of the boy, experienced difficulty assisting him after he was swept from the rocks near Fingal Head Lighthouse.

Lifeguard from Surf Life Saving, Jimmy Keough told 9News, “It was a freak accident”.

Rock formations at Fingal Head.

The boy was pulled from the water first and, by the time crews reached Ms Auelua, she was unconscious. They kept her head out of the water until Surf Life Savers plucked them all from the ocean.

New South Wales Police spokesperson Michael Dempsey said: ‘I’ve been informed she was not a strong swimmer, however she was doing her best to keep the child safe’.

Emergency service workers performed CPR before she was taken to Tweed Hospital in a critical condition.

The boy was also taken to hospital, however he was uninjured.

Ms Auelua was born in Apia, Samoa, in December 1989.

Tributes are flowing for Aggie on social media. Sad and proud beyond belief’.

Mrs Mano said the family needed more information from the Coroner and the family were especially keen to bring Ms Auelua back to New Zealand, where most of her family are.