OSAKA, Japan - Two anglers died on Wednesday after falling off rocks in the western Japanese prefecture of Shimane, local press reported.

The two men fell into the sea while fishing from rocks in the morning on Wednesday near a beach in Hamada City of the prefecture, according to the country's public broadcaster Nippon Hoso Kyokai ( NHK).

The report cited a spokesperson for the Japanese Coast Guard as saying that the two men had once been rescued by its crews after a large wave swept them out to the water, and carried to a nearby hospital. But they were officially confirmed dead later in the day.

The report added that the men came to the beach with two other friends around 4:00 am local time but the two men in 40s and 50s fell into the sea at around 7:40 while trying to retrieve a fishing rod which they had dropped.

The coast guard had warned that waves as high as two meters could be expected around the sea area since the early morning hours on Wednesday.