Man dies snorkelling off Cairns on Great Barrier Reef

Tourists enjoying “the experience of a lifetime” have spoken about their shock and devastation after a man died while snorkelling on a Cairns-based reef charter on Monday.

UPDATE: Tourists enjoying “the experience of a lifetime” have spoken of their shock and devastation after a man died while snorkelling on a Cairns-based reef charter on Monday.

Passengers on the Reef Experience dive boat have recalled “feeling numb” upon learning a snorkeller, believed to be in his 20s, was pulled from the water unresponsive after swimming at Saxon Reef.

The incident happened shortly before midday and stunned around 100 passengers on board the dive vessel, which left from the Cairns Marlin Marina.

Sydney visitor Luke Gnany, 37, said he and his partner were still coming to grips with the tragic accident.

Queensland Ambulance crews at the police were called to the Cairns Marlin Marina yesterday after a snorkeller died at a reef off Cairns. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“We were about to pull up stumps, have lunch and go to the next reef when we got wind that something had happened,” he said.

“He was with two other friends who were diving and they came up with their instructor.

“One of the mates came over to where we were sitting and said, we’ve lost our mate.

“He alerted the boat staff.

“It has knocked us around a fair bit.”

Mr Gnany said the man had drifted “so far away” from where the Reef Experience boat was docked for the swim, before being pulled up onto a small dingy and placed on towels.

The company takes passengers to Saxon, Hastings, Norman and Jorgenson Reefs.

“It was shocking, he seemed to drift so far away,” Mr Gnany said.

“You go out there for the experience of a lifetime and unfortunately this has happened.

Queensland Ambulance Service was called to three separate traffic crashes in Rockhampton on Tuesday morning, October 11, 2022.

“I just keep thinking of his parents, and them getting that phone call to say their son is dead.

“It has hit us really hard. It’s hard to know how long he might have been in the water for.”

Tourism Tropical North Queensland chief executive officer, Mark Olsen, extended his sympathy to the affected family and friends and said his “thoughts were with the crew working on the vessel”.

It’s believed the deceased man was from the UK.

A spokesman for Reef Experience said they would not be making a comment.

Queensland Police are preparing a report for the coroner

EARLIER: A snorkeller has died on the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns believed to be during a tourism experience.

Queensland Police confirmed the man’s body was found at Saxon Reef, located around 55km northeast of Cairns, at 12pm on Monday, October 24.

“Investigations are underway into the circumstances surrounding his death, however it is believed non-suspicious,” A QPS spokesman said.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said they were called to the Cairns Marlin Marina where they treated the patient “who had suffered critical injuries.”

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.

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Originally published as Man dies snorkelling off Cairns on Great Barrier Reef