Boater found dead after Gold Coast water incident
A 55-year-old man was found dead at Saltwater Creek after going missing while paddling a broken-down boat.
Police found the body of a 55-year-old man at 8:45am at the mouth of Saltwater Creek on the Gold Coast. The man went missing the previous evening after trying to paddle a damaged tinnie back to his sailboat from Hope Island.
Emergency services were called after he was heard yelling for help. The man was a strong swimmer but had badly cut his foot on barnacles earlier that day.
Rescue crews searched through the night with aircraft and sonar. His tinnie was found at nearby Coombabah Creek.
Police said the death was not suspicious.
Why it mattersThe incident underscores how quickly conditions can become dangerous on the water, even for experienced swimmers.
AustraliaA Gold Coast community is mourning the loss of a local resident who lived on his sailboat in the Broadwater.
Corroborated bysmh.com.au·theage.com.au
