A busy, but not overly crowded Trigg Beach on Good Friday.

Two girls were swimming at Trigg Beach in Perth’s north on Tuesday when they were caught in a rip.  (ABC News: Andrew O’Connor – file photo)

A 12-year-old girl is in a critical condition after she was pulled unresponsive from the water by a surfer at Trigg Beach on Tuesday.

Police received reports of swimmers in distress at the popular beach, in Perth’s north, around 6:30pm.

“On arrival, it was identified that two girls, both age 12, had been caught in a rip and pulled out to sea,” a WA Police spokesperson said in a statement.

“One of the girls was rescued by a surfer and safely brought back to shore.

“The second girl was located unresponsive in the water by the same surfer and brought to shore, where police, volunteer lifeguards and two off-duty doctors commenced CPR.”

People sitting on beach alone or in pairs

Police say the girls, one of them unresponsive, were brought back to shore at Trigg by a surfer. (ABC News: Marcus Alborn – file photo)

Five St John WA ambulances attended the scene, including critical care and special operations crews.

The second girl was taken Perth Children’s Hospital where she remains in a critical condition.

Lifesavers’ plea

Surf Life Saving WA issued a plea to beachgoers to stay safe over the Christmas period, with much of the state set to swelter through a heatwave in the coming days.

A report by Surf Life Saving Australia found the risk of drowning more than triples on public holidays and long weekends.

There have been 27 drownings in Western Australia this year.

Surf Life Saving WA general manager Chris Peck urged holiday makers to only visit patrolled beaches and always swim between the flags.

“The predicted scorching temperatures are expected to see people heading to the beach in droves to cool off over Christmas and the holiday break, but surf lifesavers are warning that dangers lurk,” he said.

“We are urging beachgoers to stay vigilant about their safety, and that of family and friends.”