‘Absolutely heartbreaking’: Tributes for bodyboarder killed at Noosa

FRIENDS and family of a man who died after being pulled from wild surf at Noosa have paid tribute to him.

FRIENDS and family of a man who died after being pulled from wild surf at Noosa have paid tribute to him.

Lindsay Connolly, 30, tragically lost his life while bodyboarding at Dolphin Point this morning.

Seven people helped to bring the man’s body ashore and waited while paramedics performed CPR.

Lindsay Connolly (left) with his former bandmate Brad Bromfield.

Queensland Police Services confirmed the man died this morning.

His stepfather, Brian Connolly, took to Facebook to share the news.

“Just want to let everyone know Lindsay passed away this morning surfing in Noosa,” Mr Connolly posted.

“Rest in peace. Very sad day.

“Travelling back to Sunshine Coast this afternoon.”

It has been a terrible time for the Connolly family in the past 12 months after Lindsay’s mother Karlene died in hospital.

Lindsay was her primary carer for five years.

A man is feared dead after being pulled from the water at Dolphin Point in Noosa National Park. Picture: RACQ LifeFlight

Brian’s post led to the community offering their condolences to the family.

Jade Tyler posted: “I’m so sorry Brian. Absolutely heartbreaking. Sending you and the family all the love and strength.”

Desmond Dickson: “RIP Lindsay my ol friend! Condolences to Brian and family. Our thoughts and hearts are with you.”

A rescue chopper is racing to Noosa with reports of an unconscious man in the water.

Connolly had previously played drums for Sunshine Coast band MESSIAM, spearheaded by Brad Bromfield.

Bromfield, the vocalist, said he played alongside the talented drummer for about eight years, and was now trying to come to terms with his mate’s death, which he described as an absolute tragedy.

“Lindsay was my little brother,” he told The Courier-Mail.

“He had faith and trust and love for me.

“I can’t thank him and love him enough for spending all the time and the bullshit he did with me.”

EARLIER

A MAN has died after he was pulled from the water on the Sunshine Coast, as wet weather and dangerous surf continue to belt southeast Queensland.

Emergency services this afternoon confirmed the death of the man, who was aged in his 30s and from Peregian Beach.

According to lifeguards, the man showed “no signs of life” when he was pulled from the water about 7.40am.

A rescue helicopter and paramedics raced to Dolphin Point at the park to assist lifeguards.

Reports from the scene this morning said the man, who is believed to have been bodyboarding, was in the hands of paramedics soon after he was discovered.

#RESUSCITATION - Lifeguards have pulled out an unconscious 34yo male bodyboarding outside the flags at #NoosaHeads National Park. Lifeguards commenced CPR until PT was transported to hospital by @QldAmbulance pic.twitter.com/V7nYR34ldD

— Surf Life Saving QLD (@lifesavingqld) October 15, 2018

An SLS media spokesman said Dolphin Point is located in a “blackspot” area, making assists tricky.

“Anywhere from Peregian to Tea Tree Bay is in our blackspot area. It is where we have the most high-risk incidents,” the spokesman said.

“As far as our lifeguards on scene could see, there was no sign of life.”

#UPDATE - Beaches #closed:
- #BuddinaBeach
- #KingsBeach
- Main Beach #NorthStradbrokeIsland
- #Maroochydore
- #PeregianBeach

— Surf Life Saving QLD (@lifesavingqld) October 15, 2018

One eye witness who saw the incident unfold and said the man had “no pulse” and three people gave him CPR.

He said about seven people were involved in getting the man ashore.

“He tried to jump off (the rocks) and got washed in,” the local man said.

“I just got out the back and there was a person screaming for help. A few people went in and tried to get him up the side of the rocks.

“It took about 20 minutes with everyone trying to get him up. There was a young fella who was in there trying to keep him afloat.

“He had no pulse, not breathing.”

“He looked in his early 30s”

A severe weather warning remains in place for the southeast coast today, with the Bureau of Meteorology saying dangerous surf conditions will continue into tomorrow.

Beaches on both the Gold and Sunshine coasts were closed over the weekend and continue to be closed today.

The Bureau says a combination of two weather systems were impacting on the coast, creating rain, gale force southeasterly winds and large waves.

The Gold Coast, Coolangatta and the eastern sides of Moreton and North Stradbroke islands would be affected.

Some areas of the southeast recorded huge rainfall tallies, with the Sunshine Coast recording a seven-day rain catchment of 498mm. Yesterday the catchment at Noosa Heads recorded 144mm.

The 7.28am Central to Ipswich train is delayed 20 minutes due to multiple weather related faults.https://t.co/GTlHCUzJ2z #TLAlert #TLIpswichline pic.twitter.com/Tk4fORoHH5

— TransLink (@TransLinkSEQ) October 14, 2018

Brisbane recorded rain totals of about 60-80mm over the weekend and the Gold Coast at Upper Springbrook recorded 70mm of rainfall on Saturday, and another 187mm on Sunday.

Wet weather has also caused delays for public transport this morning, with all inner-city trains delayed up to 10 minutes currently.

Queensland Rail say the delays are due to multiple weather related faults. Major bus delays are in place for all Park Ridge buses travelling in the Browns Plains area in both directions, with delays up to 30 minutes also due to weather conditions and heavy traffic congestion.

Clarks Logan City bus services are also experiencing delays of about 25 minutes due to multiple crashes and weather conditions.

Inner City Trains currently delayed up to 10 minutes are: Airport Line; Gold Coast Line; Beenleigh Line; Caboolture Line; Ipswich/Rosewood Line; Springfield Line; Cleveland Line; Doomben Line; Ferny Grove Line; Shorncliffe Line; Sunshine Coast Line; Redcliffe Peninsula Line.

As well as wet weather, the chill was also a factor on Saturday, with Brisbane recording its coldest October day in three decades.

The Bureau of Meteorology say Saturday was the coldest October maximum temperature recorded in Brisbane and Toowoomba in about 30 years, with Brisbane being the coldest capital city in the country on that day.

The wet weather will continue across the southeast, with Brisbane forecast to cop between 10mm and 35mm of rain.

The Gold Coast is forecast to have a top of 22, with showers to dump as much as 50mm, while on the Sunshine Coast as much as 45mm is predicted.

BoM forecaster Adam Blazak said there was still plenty of rain on the way for southeast Queensland today, but it should ease mid-week.

“Expect to see plenty of showers around today, and probably less likely and more along the coastal fringe and bayside suburbs tomorrow,” he said.