TWO British tourists have drowned after being swept out to sea in a holiday horror at a popular Queensland beach.

A 42-year-old man and a 17-year-old boy were pulled from the water at Round Hill Head in Seventeen Seventy on Sunday afternoon but tragically could not be saved.

A third man, 37, from Monto, was also dragged under but miraculously survived.

He was airlifted to Bundaberg Hospital in a critical condition with a serous head injury.

Emergency services raced to the beach near Gladstone at 2.17pm after the trio, believed to be holidaying with family, got into trouble in the surf.

Helicopters, paramedics, and rescue teams launched a desperate search, with all three eventually retrieved from the water.

Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.