Family of South Australian man, Adrian Meyer, who died on the Great Barrier Reef, speak out

The daughter of a man who died after being swept away in dangerous waters on the Great Barrier Reef is calling on Premier Steven Miles to impose tougher safety measures on tourism operators.

Angela Henson with her father, Adrian Meyer, who she first met in 2018. Mr Meyer tragically died during a family trip to the Great Barrier Reef.

The daughter of a man who died after being swept away in dangerous waters on the Great Barrier Reef is calling on Premier Steven Miles to impose tougher safety measures on tourism operators.

But the Cairns-based business at the centre of multiple investigations says it has already improved safety standards and employed more staff as a result of the 71-year-old grandfather’s tragic death.

After meeting her dad, Adrian Meyer, for the first time in 2018, Angela Henson said the pair forged a strong bond, regularly speaking for hours on the phone.

Panic-stricken paddlers watched Adrian Meyer die last November after dozens of tourists became caught in a “treacherous” current while swimming around 60km northeast of Cairns.

More than four months on from their tragic boat ride with tour company Reef Experience, Angela Henson said it was a “miracle” only her dad had died during the horror trip.

“Everyday I have flashbacks,” the mental health support worker said.

“I watched even the staff struggle to survive. These weren’t weak swimmers.

“My dad snorkelled all the time. Seeing the fear in the staff’s eyes will stay with me forever.”

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

DEATH ON THE REEF

The family “bucket list trip” – which included Ms Henson and her brother, Nicholas Meyer – rapidly turned into a disaster after dropping anchor near Norman Reef.

The decision to enter the water set in motion a sequence of events that soon included a sunken rescue boat, flailing tourists swept away and a dead body, the younger Mr Meyer said.

“We just don’t want people to go through what we’ve experienced,” he said.

Angela Henson, Adrian Meyer and Nick Meyer at the Great Barrier Reef on a Reef Experience tour. Picture: Supplied

As around 60 divers and snorkellers explored the underwater wonders of the World Heritage listed reef, several quickly started drifting too far from the tour company’s main vessel, swimmer Amber Hooper said.

“Suddenly I noticed I was about 100 metres away from the boat,” Ms Hooper, who was heavily pregnant at the time, said in November.

“I tried to swim back but I just wasn’t moving. The current was so strong. There were people around me struggling too, including a young male and woman near me.”

A 10-foot Reef Experience boat was deployed to retrieve swimmers but tour guides’ attention turned to Mr Meyer after he was discovered “lifeless” by fellow paddlers.

Around six rescued divers jumped off the vessel as first responders scurried to the South Australian tourist’s aid. But after gathering the retiree from the water, the boat capsized, leaving Mr Myer again in distress.

Remarkably, another nearby boat swooped in to recover Mr Meyer’s body, this time whisking him to the tour company’s main vessel where first responders performed CPR.

“The fact that I was there and watched the entire thing unfold, you don’t get those images out of your mind,” Mr Meyer’s son said.

“It’s a daily thing.”

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

Queensland Ambulance Service’s rescue helicopter lowered a paramedic onto the boat who desperately tried to revive him before the Angaston man was finally declared dead.

As the vessel returned to Cairns, Mr Meyer nursed his father’s body on the floor of the captain’s cabin, tightly squeezing his hand.

“It’s still pretty raw, if I’m being honest,” the Barossa Valley-based wine ambassador said last week.

“The whole experience has been horrific. Dad was a very spiritual person and that can help you look for ways to cope with loss.

“He was an incredible man. But this has really just driven home what a loss he was.”

A doting grandfather, Adrian Meyer (second from left), pictured with daughter-in-law, Simone, wife, Rosalyn and grandchildren Hendricks and Albie.

DEAR PREMIER

On Sunday, a police spokesperson confirmed the investigation, launched in late November into Mr Meyer’s death, remains ongoing with authorities still making inquiries on behalf of the Northern Coroner.

An independent investigation into his death is also being undertaken by Queensland law firm Travis Schultz and Partners, who are representing Mr Meyer’s family.

Ms Henson, who lives in East Kurrajong around 80km northwest of Sydney, said she had drafted a letter to the Premier explaining the anguish and pain caused by her father’s death.

“I just feel like I need to do something to protect other people,” she said.

“My mental health has been impacted but it would be weird if it wasn’t. There’s the loss, grief and then the trauma of the experience.

“I notice myself being shorter with the kids and things like that. But I’m going to get there.”

A Facebook image of a Reef Experience boat on the Great Barrier Reef off the coast of Cairns.

But a Reef Experience spokesman said the tour operator had made major changes to its operations in recent months.

“In light of the tragic events that unfolded in November 2023 the company has made a serious and substantial commitment to improving its safety standards and procedures,” he said.

“This includes a complete audit of all current safety systems and the implementation of all the most modern compliant safety management software.

“We’ve increased the training standards, the number of staff in all elements of the business, including the number of deck crew and back of house.

“The company has also sought a consultant who specialises in maritime safety and we are working with QWHS every step of the way.”

Sweeping changes around workplace safety and culture were vital, the spokesman said.

“Every single person in our company is working diligently to improve our safety standards and present the Great Barrier Reef to the highest possible standard,” he said.

Mr Meyer said his family would hold the tourism industry to account if broader changes weren’t made to industry regulations.

“It’s going to take a long time – maybe years,” Mr Meyer said.

“It’s not ideal but my sister and I … don’t want this to happen to others.

“It’s a really slow process (lobbying for change) and that’s part of why we never want this to happen again.

“There has to be some overhaul of how these operations work. This is about safety.”

Originally published as Family of South Australian man, Adrian Meyer, who died on the Great Barrier Reef, speak out