A 16-year-old boy has died after falling from a tree branch into a swimming hole in Helensburgh, NSW Police say.
About 1.30pm yesterday, the boy was at the Kellys Falls swimming hole with several friends when he climbed about 15m up a tree and began swinging on a branch.
The branch snapped and the boy fell to the water, striking his head on a submerged rock.
His friends dragged him from the water and emergency services were contacted.
The 16-year-old boy was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition. He died later that evening.
Police from Wollongong Local Area Command will prepare a report for the Coroner.
A paramedic who received serious leg and ankle injuries after slipping down a ravine during the rescue was airlifted to St George Hospital for treatment.