Man dies in Rockhampton Ski Gardens watercraft incident

A Rockhampton man has died after a boating incident at the Rockhampton Ski Gardens on Tuesday afternoon. Bystanders had pulled the man out of the water before paramedics were called.

A Rockhampton man has died after a boating incident at the Rockhampton Ski Gardens on Tuesday afternoon.

A Queensland Ambulance Services spokeswoman confirmed paramedics were called to the scene about 4.30pm.

She said paramedics assessed one person with critical injuries after a watercraft incident on the Fitzroy River at Plant Street, Wandal.

Capricornia District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Ralph Faria.

Capricornia District Duty Officer Senior Sergeant Ralph Faria from Rockhampton Police spoke from the scene, confirming a 57-year-old Rockhampton man had died.

He said bystanders pulled the man out of the water before he was attended to by paramedics.

“About 4.40 this afternoon, unfortunately QAS and police were called to attend the Rockhampton Ski Gardens here on the Fitzroy River in the Wandal area with regards to a vessel and its occupant that got into trouble,” Snr Sgt Faria said.

“We subsequently attended and unfortunately a gentleman that was in a tinny in the river has had an accident and is now deceased.”

Reporters at the scene from this publication said five police officers were at the scene, situated at the boat ramp area with a boat believed to be involved in the incident.

They said two ambulances had left the scene.

“It appears the gentleman was just testing the tinny in the water,” Snr Sgt Faria said.

“We don’t know whether he was struck by the vessel, whether there was a medical issue that’s occurred, or whether the gentleman drowned.”

He said the police investigation would include how the man died and whether his boat was faulty.