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Seti Tuaopepe, 35, drowned at Penrith Beach in Castlereagh on Boxing Day.
He went missing while paddleboarding with his children about 2.35pm Tuesday, and was reportedly holding them while waiting for help from another rescuer.
Mr Tuaopepe’s children survived, but his body was found about 6.15pm.
His disappearance sparked an immediate response from emergency services, and forced Penrith Beach to be closed.
The beach remained closed on Wednesday.
Nine News reported while lifeguards were on duty, Mr Tuaopepe was swimming outside the designated safe swimming zone.
Friends of the St Marys father took to social media to post tributes.
“You were kind, silent and a very gentle classmate,” wrote a friend on Facebook.
“You were a family man … condolences to your wife, children and family. Rest in peace and in the loving arms of our Lord.”
Penrith Beach is a man-made waterway, built on the site of an old quarry at a cost of around $1.7m.
It only opened to the public on December 19.
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