A 35-YEAR-OLD Irish man has died at Whitehaven Beach, one of Australia’s most popular tourist destinations.

Emergency services were called to the beach, located near the Great Barrier Reef, after the man was discovered unresponsive at around 11am yesterday.

Queensland police said a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The man’s identity has not yet been released while relatives are being informed.

This marks the second serious incident at the beach in under a week, after a near-drowning on 23 December.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has said it is aware of the incident and “stands ready to provide consular assistance” to the family of the man.

The drowning comes amid a number of other water-related fatalities in Australia over the New Year period.

Local reporting by ABC noted that a 25-year-old woman died after being swept into the ocean from Marouba Beach in Sydney earlier today, while a 45-year-old woman died at Dunbogan Beach.

Authorities have issued warnings about dangerous surf conditions along parts of the Australian coast, particularly in New South Wales and Queensland.