ACTOR Peter Hardy, who appeared in Neighbours as well as a number of other films and TV shows in his native Australia, has died aged 66.

The actor was revealed to have drowned at a beach in Fremantle near Perth, Western Australia, on Thursday.

He had travelled to Perth from London where he had lived for a number of years to visit his elderly mother, according to local reports.

Peter appeared as Jimmy Drane in three episodes of the Australian soap opera Neighbours in 1997.

He was best known in Australia for his roles in McLeod's Daughters and Chopper.

Peter is reported to have been snorkelling at South Beach in Fremantle last Thursday when he got into trouble.

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The exact circumstances behind Peter's death aren't known.

Bystanders are understood to have desperately tried to save his life, performing CPR on the beach until paramedics arrived.

Tragically, emergency crews were unable to save him and he died at the scene.

He was born and raised in Perth before beginning his acting career in the mid-1980s.

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His brother Michael posted about the tragic news on Friday, writing: "I'm devastated to say that my brother, Peter Hardy, passed away suddenly this morning.

"Rest in Peace my beloved little brother."

Tributes have poured in for the actor.

Friend Andy burns said: "On the morning of March 16 a dear friend was taken from us… the amazing and beautiful Peter Hardy drowned while snorkelling at South Beach Perth.

"He was 66 years old and looked like a Greek god, so fit and so happy to be back in his native WA visiting from London where he had made his home."

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