Heartbreak as second person dies on Great Barrier Reef in as many weeks
TRAGIC
Police have confirmed they’ll now prepare a report for the Coroner in conjunction with investigators from Work, Health and Safety after the second death on the Great Barrier Reef offshore from Cairns in the past weeks.
QAS told Newsport a 76-year-old woman “was yesterday treated in a critical condition following a reported drowning incident on the reef near Cairns” – however, sadly, a short time later she was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The woman had been snorkelling prior to the incident.
A QPS spokesperson said investigations are in the early stages and limited details are available at this time, but police are not treating the death as suspicious.
Yesterday’s incident marks the second death on the Reef in as many weeks.
A 71 year-old South Australian man died after suffering a medical episode during a trip to Norman reef about 80kms offshore from Cairns during a trip with operator ‘Reef Experience’ on November 20.
Thank you!
Newsport thanks its advertising partners for their support in the delivery of daily community news to the Douglas Shire. Public interest journalism is a fundamental part of every community.
Got a news tip? Let us know! Send your news tips or submit a letter to the editor here.
* Comments are the opinions of readers and do not represent the views of Newsport, its staff or affiliates. Reader comments on Newsport are moderated before publication to promote valuable, civil, and healthy community debate. Visit our comment guidelines if your comment has not been approved for publication.