They risked their lives to help others in need. But when they last deployed as volunteer lifeguards in Australia, 71-year-old Ross Powell and his 32-year-old son Andrew drowned. They could only be found dead by other rescue workers.

The two capsized with their boat as they tried to rescue a tourist. The disaster occurred near the famous Twelve Apostles, twelve limestone cliffs off the coast of the state of Victoria in southeastern Australia.

The 30-year-old tourist had fallen into trouble near the Twelve Apostles on Sunday when he was wading through an estuary and was dragged into the sea by the current. He was pulled out of the water by a helicopter and taken to a hospital together with a third lifeguard who had also been in the capsized boat, Victoria's police said.

We mourn the loss of Ross and Andrew Powell, from Port Campbell SLSC, who lost their lives trying to save the life of a tourist in Victoria. Surf lifesavers are selfless & brave. We thank them all for their service & extend our deepest sympathies to Ross and Andrew's family & friends

- Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) April 21, 2019

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condoled the families and friends of the drowned lifeguards. "Lifeguards are selfless and courageous," he wrote on Twitter. "We thank you all for your commitment."

"No place to swim"

The club president of the lifeguard in Victoria, Paul James, praised the two deceased, who worked full time as dairy farmers, as heroes. The sea at the Twelve Apostles was very rough on Sunday and "not a place for swimming," he said.

Andrew Powell's girlfriend, who is reported to be pregnant and expecting the couple's second child, wrote on Facebook about her grief. "Today we have lost two of the most admirable people ever - they always thought of others first," wrote Amber Griffiths.

The Twelve Apostles are one of the most photographed tourist attractions in Australia, in addition to Uluru, also known as Ayers Rock, in the Outback. The rocks between Princetown and Port Campbell are one of the highlights on the Great Ocean Road, a spectacular coastal road in southeastern Australia.