18-year-old student Manaia Tither-Asiata dies in accident on banks of Coomera River

The victim of a Gold Coast river tragedy has been revealed as a star student at a prominent secondary college. Read the latest

Police investigate the Coomera River scene where an 18 year old died on Sunday. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

A star student of the Gold Coast’s Men of Business academy has been identified as the 18-year-old man who fell to his death at a river embankment where a rope swing had been set up.

Manaia Tither-Asiata died after falling about 15 metres down an embankment at the Coomera River at 6.40pm on Sunday.

It’s not clear whether he was swinging on the rope or attempting to climb the embankment at the time he fell.

Tither-Asiata was a former star student of the Men of Business Academy, a secondary college helping disadvantaged boys complete their education and turn their lives around.

Manaia Tither-Asiata (right) at his graduation from Men of Business academy last month. Picture: MOB

Emergency services attempted to revive Tither-Asiata, but he died at the scene as his family and friends watched on in horror.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesperson said he had sustained critical head, chest, and pelvic injuries and could not be revived.

Acting Superintendent Jason Tuffley from Gold Coast police said the tragedy took place on the banks of the Coomera River in Maudsland, near Riverbreeze Crescent.

A path leads down to the embankment at the location, where there is both a rope swing and a rope to assist people in getting back up.

Police were at the scene on Monday morning investigating the incident. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

On Monday, flowers had been laid at the site as the community began to grapple with the tragedy, with dozens expressing their condolences on social media.

Virginia Baxter wrote the death was “so very sad.”

Many people also said the rope had been posing a risk to the community for some time.

Joanna Korner wrote that it should have been removed “years ago.”

A northern Gold Coast resident of more than a decade, Kelly Tully, said in her time she has seen paramedics responding to incidents at the location multiple times.

“This death could have been prevented if it was removed after the first few injuries,” Ms Tully said.

“It was only a matter of time that it took someone’s life.”

There is a rope swing and a rope to help people up the embankment at the site. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

Mayor Tom Tate extended his condolences to the family of Mr Tither-Asiata and promised council would help investigate what happened.

“It’s devastating when a young life is lost,” he said at a press conference on Monday.

“What I understand is he’s off a swing rope and he hit the bank and basically didn’t recover.

“Our procedure is that it will be totally investigated, and the rope has got to come down.”

The community is reeling after the death of the 18-year-old. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

He said the Gold Coast was spoiled for choice when it comes to parks and fun activities, but rope swings into rivers were not something that council endorsed.

He urged people who spotted rope swings to report them to council so they could be safely removed.

“I appeal to everyone else, if you see a swinging rope somewhere near the river … use the council app, take a photo of it and with the location, and we’ll go and cut it down.”

Community members have left flowers where the man died on the banks of the Coomera River in Maudsland. Picture: Glenn Campbell.

A City of Gold Coast spokeswoman also said council would assist the police probe into the tragedy.

“The City will assist authorities in their investigation into this tragic incident,” she said.

“The City Administration proactively removes rope swings in public spaces when we become aware of them.”

Mayor Tom Tate urged Gold Coasters to report all rope swings so they can be removed by council. Picture; Glenn Campbell