A passenger miraculously survived a light plane crash into the sea off Sydney today after an onlooker plunged into the ocean to rescue them, reports said.

But the pilot was believed dead following the crash just off a northern Sydney beach, as passers-by were unable to free him from the wreckage.

The aircraft sent a mayday alert before coming down some 50 metres off Curl Curl beach. It could be seen on live television pictures lying on the ocean bed.

The New South Wales state Ambulance Service said one person escaped and was receiving medical treatment.

“Paramedics have accessed one patient who has washed up on rocks and are treating the patient for suspected spinal injuries,” the service said.

Television footage showed the patient being stabilised before being winched into a helicopter and taken to hospital.

An eyewitness, who gave his name as Mr Travis, told reporters at the scene that he helped rescue the survivor.

“Me and another guy ... we ran out, swam out, we pulled one guy out, the passenger,” he told local radio.

“But mate ... we couldn’t get back out there. There’s still a guy down at the bottom, in the plane.

“We got to the aircraft but (the passenger) had already popped out, he was sort of floating. He couldn’t swim, he’d hurt his back pretty bad so we paddled him over to the shore.”

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