Three people have swum to shore after a helicopter crashed into waters near a popular coastal holiday hotspot.

The helicopter crashed into waters off Fellows Road at Point Lonsdale on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula just after 10am.

At least 11 emergency service vehicles attended, with paramedics treating three people at the scene. A man and woman were airlifted to hospital with serious injuries while another man, also suffering serious injuries, was taken to hospital via road ambulance.

Police say it’s not known what caused the crash, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate.

Point Lonsdale is 28km from the regional city of Geelong.