Australian actor Peter Hardy revealed as swimmer in fatal South ...

Australian actor Peter Hardy — best known for his roles in McLeod’s Daughters, Chopper and the Mamma Mia musical — has been revealed as the man who died in a tragic drowning incident at a Fremantle beach last week.

Hardy, 66, was snorkelling at South Beach on Thursday morning when tragedy struck. It is understood he was visiting Perth, where he grew up, from London to see his elderly mother.

While the cause of death has not yet been made public, bystanders are understood to have made a desperate attempt to have his life, giving him CPR until paramedics arrived.

A report will be prepared for the coroner.

Tributes have started to flow for the actor, who was born and raised in Perth before embarking on a stellar acting career on both stage and screen.

Camera IconPeter Hardy in McLeods Daughters. Credit: imdb/supplied

The read the full story including the ‘cheerful’ last moments before Peter Hardy’s death visit The West Australian.

Camera IconPeter Hardy as Det Steve Cooney - Chopper 2000 imdb Credit: imdb/supplied

Peter Hardy’s tragic death comes as a swimmer died after being pulled unconscious out of the water at South Beach in Fremantle — the second fatality at the popular swimming spot in three days.

The person was pulled from the ocean and taken to Sardine Jetty where CPR was performed about 1pm.

However, despite desperate efforts to save them, the person could not be saved.