A woman has drowned in rough surf at a popular tourist beach on the southern Gold Coast.

Emergency services arrived near Snapper Rocks in Coolangatta at 3.15pm after reports that three people had "come into trouble in the water".

A woman in her 40s and one child were rescued, along with a good Samaritan who entered the water to assist them.

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"Despite resuscitation attempts the woman died at the scene," Queensland Police told 9News.com.au.

Police said the child and the good Samaritan were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

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