Three people have drowned at beaches across New South Wales since Christmas Day and a fourth is missing in what has been described as the “deadliest time” of the year.

On Tuesday, a young man was swept out to sea moments after rescuing a family member in the surf off the NSW far south coast, police said.

The 19-year-old had been helping a relative struggling in the waves when he was sucked out by a rip off Congo Beach, near Moruya, about 3:30pm, according to police.

Emergency services launched a search for the teen but were unable to find him.

A land, sea and air search has resumed this morning, involving police and surf lifesavers.

The body of a 35-year-old male paddle boarder was pulled from the water at the newly-opened Penrith Beach, in Sydney’s west, late on Tuesday.

On Monday, two men died at beaches on the Central Coast.

One was a surfer who was pulled unconscious from the surf near Umina Beach.

The other was a man, believed to be in his 80s, found unconscious in the water near Copacabana beach.

Since the start of summer, 18 people have drowned across Australia.

Warning for swimmers

The deaths have prompted fresh warnings about water safety from lifesavers.

“The period between Christmas and new year is traditionally the deadliest time on our waterways,” Royal Life Saving Society of Australia CEO Justin Scarr said.

Mr Scarr said there were 25 drowning deaths during that period last year.

“We believe drownings across Christmas and new year is really about the volume of people using the waterways, but it can be unfamiliar locations for them,” he said.

“Increasingly Australians are finding their way to very regional and remote locations for their holidays, which means they’re swimming in beaches and lakes and also at unpatrolled beaches.”

Mr Scarr said it was common for people to drown while trying to save someone – often a child – from dangerous waters.

“Unfortunately, they themselves became the victim,” he said.

“It’s really important that rescue is reserved for trained rescuers only. It does take a lot of physical fitness to initiate a rescue.

“Our advice is that if you’re not a strong swimmer do not enter the water, look for perhaps a surfer nearby or someone who has a flotation device like a surfboard, to initiate the rescue.”

Heavy rain has caused many waterways and estuaries to flow more forcefully than normal, making currents far more dangerous.

“There might be debris and other obstacles that can get people into trouble,” Mr Scarr said.

He said with hot weather forecast in the lead-up to the new year, lifesavers were expecting large numbers of swimmers at the state’s rivers, lakes, dams, and beaches.

“It’s very important that people follow some very simple, basic water safety messages.”