Dr Luqman Jubair’s body found after being swept out by surf at Miami Beach

Tributes are flowing for a hero cancer researcher whose body was found off the Gold Coast overnight after he went missing in surf in an attempt to save a swimmer in distress on Thursday. Now, his world-first contribution to medicine can be revealed.

The body of a 35-year-old Southport doctor and cancer researcher has been located in waters off Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast overnight after an extensive land, air and sea search.

Thirty-five-year-old Southport man Dr Luqman Jubair was swept out to sea off Miami on Thursday night while trying to rescue another swimmer.

Dr Luqman Jubair, 35.

Dr Jubair had been part of a Griffith University research team that in 2019 made a world-first break breakthrough to treat cervical cancer in mice using ‘stealth’ nanoparticles.

He had been a PhD candidate at the university’s Cancer Research Centre for the past seven years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

Dr Jubair was previously a research assistant at Gold Coast University Hospital.

Police initially said a fisherman had been washed off rocks, but this proved to be wrong.

Gold Coast police acting chief superintendent Rhys Wildman said the fisherman had been standing in waist-deep water on the beach when he saw a swimmer in distress.

He dropped his gear and signalled to the shore for help, and three bystanders who were on the beach ran into the surf to assist.

Police and surf lifesavers at Miami Beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The swimmer who had been struggling was saved by the fisherman and two of the rescuers, but the 35-year-old good Samaritan was swept further away from the shoreline (and) out into the ocean itself in an “absolute tragedy”, Supt Wildman said.

He said the search was suspended on Thursday night but resumed at first light on Friday with the Westpac rescue helicopter, water police, Volunteer Marine Rescue and police on all-terrain vehicles involved.

Police and surf lifesavers search off Miami Beach. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Supt Wildman said the Dr Jubair’s backpack had been found before his body.

“It’s a tragic tale where a member of the public has attempted to do the right thing and stepped in to save the life of another person and unfortunately has found themself in some difficulty,” he said.

“This is a very difficult time for the family.”

The scene of the tragedy on Thursday evening. Picture: Supplied

His body was located on Saturday morning by members of the public and they contacted police.

Dr Jubair studied medicine at Baghdad’s Al-Nahrain University from 2004 to 2010 and was a member of the Iraq Health Aid Organisation and Iraq Medical Association. He gained a masters degree in medical research at Griffith University in 2015.

Queensland’s chief health officer Dr John Gerrard today revealed Dr Jubair had also worked at the Gold Coast University Hospital Covid ward.

He said Dr Jubair’s family should be very proud of the well-loved doctor, referring to him as “a real hero”.

“It’s a tragedy, I just can’t imagine what his family must be going through at the moment. This young doctor had been working on the Covid ward of the Gold Coast University Hospital,” said Dr Gerrard.

“His family should be very proud of him. An amazing young man. I understand he was well loved by his colleagues, a very competent doctor, a real hero.”

Griffith University vice chancellor Professor Caroyn Evans and pro vice chancellor Analise O’Donovan released a joint statement in the wake of Dr Jubair’s death saying the university was grieving the loss of “a talented and selfless humanitarian”.

“The University is incredibly shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Dr Luqman Jubair and extend our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues in Australia and his home country Iraq,” the statement said.

“Dr Jubair arrived in Australia as a qualified doctor but his real passion was to help others in medical oncology through cancer research.

“He began his PhD at Griffith and worked alongside Professor Nigel McMillan in cancer gene editing and medicines at Menzies Health Institute of Queensland from 2016 to 2019.

“Dr Jubair was a dedicated and vital member of Professor McMillan’s research team which achieved worldwide recognition for being the first to delete cancerous tumours in mice through CRISPR gene-editing technology.

“We are grieving the loss of such a talented and selfless humanitarian who throughout his life always placed others before himself.”

Dr Luqman Jubair and research partner Nigel McMillan.

Dr Jubair’s research partner, Professor Nigel McMillan, paid tribute to his friend and colleague on Facebook.

“Luqman was a PhD student in the McMillan lab from 2016-19 and was the first person in the world to show that CRISPR could be used to cure cancer. He was a smart, funny, dedicated, incredibly hard working and talented student whose desire was to move into genetic medicine,” Professor McMillan wrote.

“He returned to his medical career after his PHD studies and was working towards this goal. His act was singularly brave and fitting given his life’s work was dedicated to helping others. He will be missed and I think the world has lost someone had not only already made a difference, but for whom I feel even bigger things were to come. Rest In Peace Luqman.”

The general public also shared their grief at Dr Jubair’s passing.

“RIP so brave and selfless,” a woman posted on Facebook.

Another wrote: “This is just so horribly tragic and sad. Just looking at his beautiful face and the kindness in his eyes … such a great loss. Condolences to his family, friends and work colleagues.”

People watching on as police searched off Miami Beach on Thursday evening. Picture: Supplied

A Gold Coast Health spokeswoman released a statement offering condolences to Dr Jubair’s family.

“Gold Coast Health recently welcomed Dr Jubair as a registrar and much valued member of the health service,” the statement said.

“We offer our heartfelt sympathies and condolences to Dr Jubair’s family, friends and healthcare colleagues.

“As a health service, we are focused on ensuring staff who knew Dr Jubair are supported at this difficult time.”

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.