MATARAM, Indonesia (AFP) - An Australian man has been killed after being hit by a huge wave while surfing in central Indonesia, police said Thursday.

Mr Peter Luke, 27, was surfing with two friends off the island of Sumbawa on Monday when the accident happened, said local police chief Teddy Hendyawan Syarif.

"The victim was rolled over and swept away by a five-metre wave before he hit a reef," he told AFP. His two friends were also swept away by the wave but survived, Mr Syarif added.

Police said his body was found several hours after the accident and was transported to the resort island of Bali before being flown to the Australian state of Victoria, where he was from.

Mr Luke had taken a tourist boat from Bali to visit Sumbawa, a popular surfing spot.