A woman has died after being swept off rocks and into the sea by a freak wave in Sydney's southeast.
The woman, believed to be a 25-year-old Chinese tourist, is understood to have been posing for a photo on the rocks at Bare Island, off La Perouse, when she was swept into the water.
Emergency services attended the scene at around 3pm - including police, ambulance paramedics, the NSW Ambulance helicopter and lifesavers - in the hope they could save the young woman's life.
The crews performed a thorough search but when it became apparent they were searching for a body, green dye was dropped into the water. At around 3.35pm they located a woman's body in the water. A report is being prepared for the coroner.
Stephen Leahy, from the Lifesaver Helicopter Rescue Service, told the ABC: "The girl was having her photo taken on rocks, she slipped, she has fallen into the water and despite an extensive search by emergency services her body has been located."
He added: "It's always important to remember that when you're close to the waters edge on rocks or near the edges of cliffs and things like that - they are dangerous locations," he said.
"One slip and you can end up in the water, so please be aware that the places really are dangerous."
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that several people had in the last week been posting photographs of themselves on the rocks at La Perouse. One of the photos shows a young man balancing on one foot on a rocky outcrop.
- Daily Mail with additional reporting from AAP