About 11.20am (Saturday 22 June 2019), a group of four were collecting materials after rock fishing at Seagull Point on the southern end of Shelly Beach.

A large wave hit the rocks, sweeping a 31-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman out to sea. Both were wearing life jackets.

Their companions immediately contacted emergency services.

Officers from Manning/Great Lakes Police District responded, along with NSW Ambulance and Surf Life Saving Australia personnel.

A jet-ski operator from Surf Life Saving Australia was first on scene and located the pair about 100 metres off shore, floating south.

The man and woman were retrieved by jet-ski and transported to Elizabeth Beach.

The man suffered a laceration to his left arm and was treated for hypothermia.

The woman suffered a fracture to her left leg and was also treated for hypothermia.

The pair were conveyed by ambulance to Manning Base Hospital in a stable condition.

“Had it not been for the life jackets and the incredibly swift response of Surf Life Saving Australia personnel, we could have had an extremely tragic event here today,” said Chief Inspector Paul Fuller from Manning/Great Lakes Police District.

NSW Police encourage the public to always take every precaution when fishing and equip themselves with appropriate safety gear.