A British man has drowned after his surfboard snapped in stormy weather at an Australian beach.

Police and paramedics were called to Frankston Beach in Melbourne’s south-east at about 5pm local time on Wednesday after people spotted two men struggling in the water.

A helicopter was drafted in to winch the pair back to shore, but both were unresponsive and could not be revived.

Neither man has been identified as police work to notify their next-of-kin.

They believe one, a 36-year-old British national, was surfing when his board snapped as the state was lashed by 80mph winds.

A 43-year-old friend of the surfer jumped into the water to assist, but both came into trouble.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Victoria Police inspector Melissa Nixon said the surfer had ‘minimal experience’.

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