Two men have drowned in a swimming spot in NSW’s Mid North Coast and two others, including a pregnant woman, remain in hospital.

Emergency services were called to John Locke Place in Gleniffer – about 9km north of Bellingen – about 6.45pm on Sunday after reports of people struggling in Never Never River.

Police were told three people in their 30s were swimming in the river when they began to struggle.

The Never Never River swimming hole in Bellingen. Picture: Supplied
A NSW Ambulance spokesperson said crews were called to the holiday spot after reports three people had been “submerged under the water”.

Two men were pulled from the water by first responders but could not be revived and were pronounced dead at the scene.

A third man was pulled from the water and was treated by emergency services.

He remains in a stable condition at Coffs Harbour Health Campus, the ABC reports.

About 30 minutes after the third man was transported to hospital, police who remained at the scene called NSW Ambulance to return after a pregnant woman began to experience “emotional shock,” a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said.

The river is a secluded and popular tourist spot. Picture: Supplied
Paramedics treated the woman, believed to be a friends of the three men, before transporting her to Coffs Harbour Health Campus, where she remains in a stable condition.

The NSW Ambulance spokesperson said there were no reports of the woman struggling in the water.

“It’s likely emotional shock rather than physical shock … related to distress,” they said.

The Never Never River is a popular swimming spot that has been dubbed online as “Australia’s best-kept secret”.

The secluded area has attracted hundreds of visitors in recent years after the picturesque location went viral on social media.

The river is home to swings and ropes for visiting tourists, who often set up camp at the riverbank and dive and swim in the water.

In 2024, an overload of tourists, pets and traffic to the area triggered the council to temporarily shut access after faecal matter was discovered in the water.