Millaa Millaa Falls, Cairns: Urgent search launched after two swimmers failed to resurface at popular waterfall

An urgent search and rescue operation is underway after two swimmers failed to surface at Millaa Millaa Falls, south of Cairns.

Three friends jumped into the water and when one did not surface, his friend entered the water to find him.

The friend, also a man, has been rushed to hospital.

The men are believed to be aged in their late 20s and early 30s.

Emergency services responded to reports of two people missing around 8.55am.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said four crews were on the scene to assist the Queensland Fire Department.

A rescue helicopter is en-route, and police and Queensland Ambulance Service called to the scene.

'We're being tasked to assist search and rescue for two people who've gone missing at the falls,' the spokeswoman said.

'We've got four units responding. One of those is a search and rescue helicopter.

'A third male has been transported to hospital.'

Millaa Millaa Falls is a popular tourist attraction and one of the Far North’s most iconic waterfalls. 

In March, a 20-year-old international student went missing after he leapt from a ledge into water at Crystal Cascades, west of Cairns, and failed to surface.

A search and rescue operation was launched by emergency services and divers recovered his body the next day. 

It is understood the tourist was swept downstream after swimming at the top of a set of waterfalls - an area marked as a no-swim zone. 

More to come.