A man has been charged after footage emerged online of him taunting a group of African men when their 15-year-old friend drowned at an Adelaide beach.

South Australia Police said they arrested a 31-year-old man from West Croydon for disorderly behaviour after a knife was found in his possession.

He was bailed to appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on 6 February.

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Disturbing footage has emerged of a man hurling racist abuse at a group of African teenagers after their friend died at a popular beach during birthday celebrations

In the footage the man can be seen yelling and pointing at the group of teenagers

In the video, filmed at Glenelg beach in Adelaide, the man can be seen yelling at the group before he is attacked.

A 15-year-old boy, whose family is believed to be from Burundi, was pulled unconscious from the water near the jetty about 4.30pm on Monday.

Police and lifeguards commenced CPR until paramedics arrived and took over, but the youngster could not be saved.

The group attack, captured on camera by a passer-by, occurred a short time after the young boy drowned police told Daily Mail Australia.

The video was uploaded to social media with the caption: 'Black child just died and this fool wants to say s*** like this. SMH TOLERATE NO RACISM.'

In the footage the man can be seen yelling and pointing at the group of teenagers.

In the video, filmed at Glenelg beach in Adelaide, the man can be seen yelling at the group before he is attacked

The group attack, captured on camera by a passer-by, occurred a short time after the young boy drowned police said

The altercation moves to Glenelg jetty before it's broken up by members of the public

'You're weak, you're all f***ing weak, you weak f***ing dogs' he screams.

'You f***ing black c***s.'

The man is then mobbed by about 15 teenagers, punching him in the back and head.

The altercation moves to Glenelg jetty before it's broken up by members of the public.

The disturbing fight was witnessed by hundreds of people looking on from the beach.

Police confirmed the altercation occurred a short time after the boy drowned but said it was unrelated to his death.

Someone who knew the young boy's family told The Advertiser the teenager had been at the beach with his family to enjoy a birthday party.

Those at the beach were surrounded by the devastated screams of his mother, who was being comforted at the nearby Surf Lifesaving Club.

A 15-year-old boy was pulled from the water at Adelaide's Glenelg Beach on Monday afternoon

The teenager, who lived less than 10 kilometres from the beach, could not be revived despite resuscitation efforts

A trio of hero teenagers revealed to the papers they had made the first efforts to save the boy.

Max, 16, said he was about to jump off the Glenelg Jetty when he heard screams about a body in the water.

'I jumped off the jetty into the water and just swam around to him and dived down for him.

'He was laying face down and I just had to grab him, I just had to pull him straight to the beach and others helped me.'

George, 15, and Zack, 16 also helped in the rescue efforts.

Images of the scene show a huge crowd of locals, who had flocked to the beach to beat the heat, some helping, and others watching on in horror as rescue efforts took place.

The boy, who lived less than 10 kilometres from the beach in Goodwood, is not the first to die in the unpredictable waters.

Indian junior soccer star Nitisha Negi drowned off Glenelg less than two weeks ago, and rescuers recovered her body the next morning.

The teenage boy is the second youngster to die in the unpredictable waters in less than two weeks - on December 10, Indian junior soccer star Nitisha Negi (pictured) went missing in the waters, and her body was recovered the next day

Two 11-year-old boys, Frank Ndikuriyo and Thierry Niyomwungere, drowned at the same spot on New Year's Day last year

Two 11-year-old boys, Frank Ndikuriyo and Thierry Niyomwungere, drowned at the same spot on New Year's Day last year.

Lifesavers blamed 'unnatural' movement in the water that swirled and caused currents for the rash of deaths at the popular area.

SA Surf Life Saving acting emergency operations manager Ben Laurenson said it was a dangerous area of the beach, and they needed to be given authority to close it.

'In South Australia, the surf lifesavers don't have the authority to close the beach but if that's something that the state government would be looking at, we will certainly welcome it,' he said.

'If it needs to be closed to save someone's life then it's worth it.'

Anyone who was in the vicinity of the Glenelg jetty on Monday and saw the teenage boy in difficulty in the water is asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.