The death of a surfer and a friend who tried to save him has sparked a stern warning from police, as a specialist officer who tried to rescue the pair recovers from the ordeal.

A 36-year-old British national got into trouble when his surfboard snapped in waters off Frankston in Melbourne's southeast on Wednesday afternoon, as Victoria was being lashed by intense wind gusts.

Victoria Police Detective Inspector Melissa Nixon said he "wasn't experienced at surfing" and his friend, a 43-year-old local man, jumped from a pier to save him.

Both men struggled in the rough conditions and officers attempted to winch them to safety using a police helicopter, but they died in the water.

A specialist police diver involved in the operation swallowed a significant amount of water and was taken to ho

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