Whitsunday Regional Council charged over Airlie Beach Lagoon double drowning

The case against a north Queensland regional council charged over a double drowning will face a lengthy adjournment.

The case against a north Queensland regional council charged over a double drowning that claimed the lives of a father and son will face a lengthy adjournment.

In 2018 two Chinese tourists – a 30-year-old man and his five-year-old son – died while swimming at the Airlie Beach Lagoon, a public pool.

The pair was pulled unconscious from the water about 4pm on October 28.

Airlie Beach Lagoon was closed following a near drowning incident in October 2018.

They had been underwater for about six minutes before someone swimming noticed a man at the bottom of the pool and raised the alarm.

The man was receiving CPR when bystanders spotted a child fully submerged. He was pulled from the water a few minutes after his father.

Despite frantic efforts to save their lives, neither could be resuscitated.

Following a WHSQ investigation, the Whitsunday Regional Council was charged with failing to comply with its primary duty of care under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 between May 30, 2017 and October 29, 2018.

It is alleged Whitsunday Regional Council, which is responsible for operating the Airlie Beach Lagoon, failed to ensure the health and safety of persons was not put at risk from its operations of the lagoon, and that its failure exposed persons to a risk of death or serious injury.

The case was first mentioned in Proserpine Magistrates Court in December 2020. It was listed again for Monday, November 8, when it was adjourned for three months.

The matter will be mentioned again in February.