Photo shows Adrian Meyer’s final moments before tragic death on Great Barrier Reef off Cairns

Family and friends have revealed how they will celebrate the life of Adrian Meyer, 71, an “eccentric” family patriarch who tragically died on the Great Barrier Reef off Cairns.

Nicholas Meyer with his father, Adrian Meyer aboard the Reef Experience tour boat near Cairns on Monday, November 20, 2023.

The family of a South Australian man who died while visiting the Great Barrier Reef say he will be remembered at a memorial in the Barossa Valley next month.

Adrian Meyer, 71, travelled with his daughter and son to Cairns to see the World Heritage Area as part of a belated 70th birthday present.

But the retiree died unexpectedly on Monday last week after being swept away in a strong current near Norman Reef, around 60 kilometres from Cairns.

The rescue boat that retrieved him from the water capsized and subsequent efforts to revive him aboard the tour company’s main vessel were unsuccessful.

His death is now being investigated by the Northern Coroner and Workplace Health and Safety.

A family photo captured aboard the boat before tragedy struck shows a beaming Mr Meyer giving a thumbs up alongside his son, Nicholas.

Speaking to News Corp, Nicholas said he initially planned to return to Cairns this week and collect his father’s remains but has since changed his mind.

“My poor mum (Rosalyn) doesn’t fly and we’re trying to support her right now,” he said.

“She needs us. With all the traumatic events that have happened we’ve decided it’d be better to stay.”

Mr Meyer’s remains will be cremated at a later stage with the family yet to determine where his ashes will be spread.

“It’s still raw,” he said.

“Dad was an avid traveller and so am I. We think we’d like to continue his memory by taking a little piece of him everywhere we go though, so we’ll see.”

The devoted son is now calling for any passengers who were on board the Reef Experience boat when his father died to contact the authorities.

“I know people are hurting and traumatised by it,” he said.

“But the more people that come forward the better chance we have of avoiding something like this from happening again.

“We just want to see that dad’s death isn’t for nothing. I think there’s an opportunity to do some good and make real change.”

Angela Henson with her biological father, Adrian Meyer, while visiting Cairns on holiday together.

ALWAYS SAID ‘I LOVE YOU’

Mr Meyer’s daughter, Angela Henson, who only met her biological father five years ago described him as “a loving grandfather” with a passion for the outdoors.

“He didn’t know I existed until September 2018,” Ms Henson said.

“I remember meeting him on my doorstep. He hugged me and said, ‘I feel like I’ve won the lottery.’

“He always said, ‘I love you.’ His connection to nature really struck me.

“I remember him building a pond out of an old bathtub one time.

“He always loved to rattle off names of coral and fish.”

A “staunch environmentalist” with an abiding love of the ocean, Nicholas said his father was deeply fascinated by the world’s largest coral reef system.

“We’d love to do something for conservation. That’s something that’s important for dad’s legacy,” he said.

“But we’re not sure. We’re still trying to grieve and get over the shock of everything.”

The memorial will be held Thursday, December 7.

Originally published as Photo shows Adrian Meyer’s final moments before tragic death on Great Barrier Reef off Cairns