A man has died and two other people have been treated for hypothermia after spending four hours in the water off the West Australian coast.

The incident was reported to police at about 2:15pm today after a vessel came across the group near Geraldton, about four hours north of Perth. 

A local man in his 60s was found dead, while the two others were rushed to Geraldton Health Campus for treatment. 

Police say the trio’s boat was hit by a wave about two nautical miles north-west of the Batavia Coast Boat Harbour. 

Police and St John WA personnel attended the harbour to meet the Geraldton Marine Rescue vessel deployed to the emergency as it returned.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.