Two British male tourists drowned after being swept into rough seas off a town near the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland.

The 46-year-old man and 17-year-old boy were swimming at Round Hill Head in the popular tourist town of Seventeen Seventy, about 130km north of Bundaberg, on Sunday when tragedy struck.

Emergency services were alerted about 2.15pm (AEST) and deployed a rescue helicopter, but the pair were declared dead after being retrieved from the ocean.

Police confirmed that the man and the teenager were visiting from the UK, but have not released their names.

British media reports they were a father and son.

A 37-year-old Australian man, from the Queensland town of Monto was also rescued from the water and flown to Bundaberg Hospital for treatment before being transferred to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.

The emergency service CapRescue, which found the three men, posted on social media how Sunday’s deployment “was a difficult one”.

It said the deaths had occurred “despite the best efforts of all involved”.

Seventeen Seventy, named for the year Captain James Cook arrived in Australia, is known for its scenic beaches and proximity to the Great Barrier Reef. The region is popular with Australian and overseas tourists.

Police are treating the deaths as non-suspicious and will prepare a report for the coroner.