Twins fire up at surfers for not helping drowning man at Australian beach

Ravneet Singh Gill, 22, who died at Duranbah Beach on Christmas Day, was a Southern Cross University business student. Photo / Supplied

Two men have accused fellow surfers of "standing around watching" as a man drowned at a beach on the NSW-Queensland border.

A 22-year-old Indian national — named by the Gold Coast Bulletin as Ravneet Singh Gill — was with seven other swimmers at Duranbah Beach, Tweed Heads, on Christmas Day when they were pulled out to sea in a rip.

Queensland surf lifesavers took to the water on jetskis for the mass rescue assisted by the Harrington twins, Shaun and Dean, who are known for their Jackass-style stunts.

Duranbah Beach, popular with surfers, can be dangerous for swimmers. Photo / Supplied

"To all those surfers yesterday at D'bah [Duranbah Beach] who watched two lifeguards, me and my family save six people and one drowned, F*** YOU," the Harrington Twins wrote on their Instagram page on Boxing Day.

"If you see someone in trouble you HELP THEM and that kite boarder who nearly ran me over twice when I had an unconscious man in my arms you can get f***ed.

"Some poor family has lost a life because people were standing around watching and doing f*** all, it's f***ing bulls***!!"

Police were called to the beach about 4.45pm, news.com.au reported.

Ravneet Singh Gill, 22, who died at Duranbah Beach on Christmas Day, was a Southern Cross University business student. Photo / Supplied

The surf lifesavers and the Harringtons rescued all eight swimmers, but Singh was pulled from the water unconscious. Paramedics were unable to be revive him on the shore.

The other seven were taken to hospital for assessment, police said, and the beach was closed for the rest of the day.

Singh's friends returned to the beach yesterday and remembered the Southern Cross University business student as a "golden-hearted person", the Gold Coast Bulletin reported.

Officers from Tweed Byron Local Area Command have launched an investigation into the drowning.

"The incident is a timely reminder for swimmers to make safety the priority when in, on or around the water this summer," police said.

The Harrington twins' post has received more than 6000 likes.