He was dragged underwater beyond the reach of onlookers.
When waves finally broke him loose, surfers paddled him ashore - but frantic rounds of CPR could not revive the Kiwi sport radio commentator and host. Mr Moody drowned on Wednesday while on holiday with wife Bev at Angourie Beach, on the far north coast of New South Wales, where locals said he had been every year for up to 30 years.
The 60-year-old was a familiar face around town and was an experienced surfer, but he was caught in a "freak" accident, they said.
Angourie Beach is a cove about 500m wide, between two rocky points.
On days with high swells, experienced surfers walk up the rocks and jump off with their boards past the surf break.
As a veteran of Angourie Beach, Mr Moody was doing the same just after noon on Wednesday, with four other surfers.
He jumped, but his board became trapped.
"He got stuck in probably one of the worst spots out there, at the break," said local surfer Craig Penman, who saw the tragedy and later pulled Mr Moody from the waves and tried to resuscitate him.
"We tried to get to him because he was stuck underwater ... but we couldn't quite get there," Mr Penman said.
The waves eventually knocked Mr Moody loose, and Mr Penman pulled him on to a board and paddled ashore.
The men took turns doing CPR on Mr Moody, who died at the scene despite the arrival of an ambulance.
He worked for the Radio Network in Wellington and was the voice of Wellington and All Blacks rugby for the best part of two decades.
He was Newstalk ZB's breakfast sports anchor at the time of his death.
Long-time friend and colleague Brian Waddle told Newstalk ZB he had known Mr Moody for 47 years and their careers had followed similar paths.
"It's just numbing. It's hard to believe," he said.
An obituary will follow.
