Melbourne family grieves man who died at Currimundi Lake boot camp

A shattered Melbourne family is seeking answers after the sudden death of their “fairly fit”, active son during a boot camp on the Sunshine Coast.

Joshua Powell, left, with his brothers, Elijah Powell, centre, and Nehemiah Powell, right.

The devastated family of a “fairly fit” and active man who suddenly died during a Sunshine Coast boot camp is seeking answers as they come to grips with their loss.

Witnesses say Joshua Powell, 27, was participating in a men’s health and wellness boot camp on the Wurtulla side of Currimundi Lake on Friday, October 13, when tragedy struck.

Participants in the bootcamp were understood to have rushed to the cafes next to the lake on Westaway Pde, desperately seeking a defibrillator to try and save Mr Powell’s life.

Mr Powell, from Berwick in Melbourne, was unable to be revived.

His heartbroken mother, Venessa Powell, and her family were now left to try and piece together what happened to her boy as they prepared for his funeral.

She described the last moments she shared with her son, who had travelled from Victoria with her to visit friends in Bundaberg before starting the boot camp.

Berwick resident Joshua Powell died suddenly while at a Sunshine Coast boot camp on October 13.

“We had a final hug and a kiss goodbye,” Ms Powell said.

“He said ‘see you on Monday’.”

Joshua was staying in a hotel with other members of the exercise group.

The 27-year-old lived with his mum and his two younger brothers.

The family has not watched television for a week because they could not bear to put it on and then not have Joshua interrupting them by sharing a meme or something else he had found on social media.

“He was great with kids and people younger than him, he was always one to laugh and he was a happy fellow,” Ms Powell said.

Joshua Powell with his brothers, Elijah Powell, centre, and Nehemiah Powell, right.

“And he’s a great comfort for us and drives us crazy at the same time.”

The heartbroken mother said even the family’s pets knew something was wrong.

The cats, she said, kept lying on Joshua’s oodie and their dog kept looking for him every time someone came to the door.

What happened to Joshua?

As the family finalises funeral details, they have also started to look for more information about what happened in the moments before his death.

“We’re trying to piece together all the information that has been given in the Coroner’s report,” she said.

“They’ve told us everything, for which we’re very grateful.

“Mum as a nurse for many years is trying to piece together the minutes, the why and the how.”

The grieving mum said there was some “black spots” in the information and her family wanted answers.

Ms Powell said Joshua was a fairly fit young man who went jogging daily and was not overweight.

Workers recount their experience

Westaway Pde cafe worker Natasha Turner said “two or possibly three” men came in asking for a defibrillator on the day of Joshua’s death and the workers suggested they try the nearby lifeguard tower.

The lifeguard tower near Currimundi Lake. Picture: Letea Cavander

“They didn’t expand on what was going on, they just sort of said it was urgently needed,” she said.

Lifesavers and lifeguards, however, are not always present at that Surf Life Saving Queensland tower.

She said it was the second time in a couple of weeks the workers had been asked for a defibrillator.

“We had someone else coming in and asking for one for a younger child,” Ms Turner said.

“Again, the lifesaver tower was closed, they can’t be open all the time.”

Ms Turner said the close-knit community lined the street and pointed the paramedics towards Joshua.

“Everyone was seeing if they could do anything to help,” she said.

When Ms Powell heard of the community members’ actions, she became emotional and wanted to acknowledge their efforts for her son.

Currimundi resident Dominic Venditti, who works near where the incident occurred, said he was also approached by the boot camp group members for a defibrillator machine.

He said the group had been training on the Wurtulla side of the lake when the incident took place.

Mr Venditti said it was also the second time he had been approached for equipment.

The worker said he would like access to the lifeguard tower in an emergency, or access to equipment because it was a busy part of the coastline.

Mr Venditti’s co-worker Patrick Gaughan said he would support having access to a defibrillator.

Currimundi Lake cafe worker Patrick Gaughan says he supports workers in the area having access to a defibrillator. Picture: Letea Cavander

“I think it should be necessary to make everyone safer,” he said.

A Surf Life Saving Queensland spokesman said equipment held in the lifeguard tower near Currimundi Lake was specialist equipment that required training and certification in order to use it, and was not suitable for use by members of the public.

“Providing public access to the tower would also compromise the security of this equipment which is essential for patrols on weekends, public holidays and school holidays when the tower is in use,” he said.

The Sunshine Coast Council was also approached for comment on the possibility the council could provide a defibrillator in the area.

It only responded by stating any questions about Mr Powell’s death should be directed to police.

Police advised the results of the autopsy were still to be determined.