This is the horrific moment a freak wave swept an unsuspecting couple off the rocks at Bondi Beach, killing a popular Russian DJ and injuring his wife.
Andrei Ivanov, 47, and his wife Yulia, 45, were standing on the rocks at the north end of the world-famous beach when the monster wave washed them into the ocean.
She managed to swim back to safety screaming for her husband as he disappeared below the surface.
After searching the large swell for 30 minutes, lifesavers eventually pulled Mr Ivanov to land and performed CPR, but could not revive him.
Popular Russian DJ Andrei Ivanov (pictured) who drowned while swimming at Bondi beach on Saturday has been remembered as the ‘kindest human being in the world’
This is the horrific moment a rogue wave swept an unsuspecting couple off the rocks at Bondi Beach, killing a popular Russian DJ and injuring his wife
Lifesavers and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter began searching for the man at 5.30pm, before pulling him unconscious from the water at 6pm. NSW Police confirmed the 47-year-old was a Russian tourist
Chilling footage obtained by Seven News shows the moment before Mr Ivanov’s death as the couple stood on the rocks, as the wave suddenly towered over them.
A witness said Yulia had been crying and shouting: ‘My husband is inside the water’.
As news of his death filtered back to his homeland, Mr Ivanov’s friends flooded Facebook to pay tribute to the talented DJ.
Mr Ivanov’s friend Alexandra Kallas told Daily Mail Australia she ‘wanted the world to know who he was’.
‘He was the nicest, the kindest human being in the whole world,’ Mrs Kallas said.
‘He met his wife Yulia back then, and they were an amazing, loving, fun couple that everybody loved.
‘He was one of the legends of the Russian nightclub scene and an incredible human being. We all will miss him forever.’
Mr Ivanov became popular throughout Russia in the early 1990s where he regularly appeared on radio station Maximum.
Leading dance producer Pavel Loginov posted on Facebook: ‘The news today just killed me…’
Chilling footage shows the moment before Mr Ivanov’s death as the couple stood on the rocks as the wave towered over them
Under the name Triplex he regularly produced hit albums and held residencies at a number of top nightclubs.
Leading dance DJ Pavel Loginov posted: ‘The big news today just killed me… we will remember you… Andrei Ivanov’.
Shocked swimmers who witnessed the horror drowning told how Mrs Ivanov was at the water’s edge screaming in despair after her husband disappeared.
‘The lady was covered in blood and screaming for her partner as he was drowning,’ a female swimmer said.
Prominent trance DJ Vladimir Fonarev paid tribute on Instagram, posting: ‘We will remember you… Andrey Ivanov (Triplex)’
Mr Ivanov’s wife Yulia, 45, was also washed into the ocean by the rogue wave but managed to make it back to safety. She suffered cuts and two broken toes in the process and was taken to hospital, but has since been released
‘We watched as they plucked him out later and it was obvious he had passed (and) all I could think is the horror she would be going through.’
A Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was deployed about 5.30pm Saturday to aid in the search for Mr Ivanov.
About 6pm lifeguards in on jet skis and in dinghys pulled his body from the water.
Mrs Ivanov suffered cuts and two broken toes in her desperate efforts to escape the large swell and was rushed to St Vincents hospital, but has since been released.
NSW Ambulance duty operations manager Sally Groves said it was an ‘absolutely horrendous outcome’.
‘Paramedics worked closely with other emergency services and did everything possible to try and save his life, but sadly he was unable to be saved,’ Ms Groves said.
NSW Ambulance duty operations manager Sally Groves said it was an ‘absolutely horrendous outcome’
‘No matter what you are doing near the water, please be vigilant – it is not worth risking your life.’
Despite the mostly sunny day, beaches across Sydney have continued to be plagued by large swells, a week after severe storms smashed the city.
Coogee beach, a few kilometres south of Bondi, was closed on Saturday because of the dangerous conditions.
Dangerous surf warnings were in place on Saturday along much of Australia’s east coast as ex-tropical cyclone Uesi continued to move south.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a hazardous surf warning for coastal activities in the Hunter region, Sydney, the Illawarra, Batemans region and Eden Coast.
Lifesavers at Bondi Beach searched for the man alongside bystanders and rescue helicopters
Beachgoers on jet skis and lifesavers also joined the search in finding the missing swimmers