John Butler Trio drummer Michael Barker fought to save a drowning man in Townsville, Australia on Friday, but tragically couldn't get to the 22-year-old in time.

Barker was riding through the Queensland town at 8:15am local time when he heard Shane Soloman shouting for help in Ross Creek.

He and another man tried to pull Soloman out of the water, but he died soon after leaving the river.

Barker says, "I just heard a bit of a ruckus and there was a lady calling for help so myself and another gentleman went down assist. We slid down the embankment, which was quite a steep climb.

"The other gentleman was administering some chest compressions, but he was oozing a lot of froth which wasn't a good sign. He had a huge bump on his head."

Soloman was declared dead at the scene of the accident.

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)