Surfers pulled a man's body from waters off Port Kembla following an apparent fishing accident this morning.
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The two surfers raised the alarm about 7.30am shortly after they discovered floating debris, including an esky, near the surf break known as Oilies.
They searched the area and found an overturned tinny wedged against the breakwall of the Port Kembla Coal Loader and then, the man’s body.
Authorities say the man, aged in his 50s and of Vietnamese extraction, was wearing a life jacket but it may have been insufficient for his weight.
Water Police, surf lifesavers, lifeguards and Ambulance Rescue 26 chopper continued searching the water for a second stricken fisherman after discovering another life jacket floating in the water.
The search was prolonged by dangerous conditions, with waves crashing against the breakwall making it difficult to reach the area under the boat.
The search was called off shortly before 10am when it was determined the man had been fishing alone.
Illawarra Ambulance district officer Terry Morrow said it was unknown how long the man had been in the water.
‘‘Our intensive care paramedics attempted resuscitation however he had no signs of life,’’ he said.