Inquest opens into death of young lifesaver Matthew Barclay at 2012 national championships

THE forensic pathologist who examined young lifesaver Matthew Barclay's body could not explain why he drowned.

THE forensic pathologist who examined young lifesaver Matthew Barclay's body could not explain why he drowned.

Dr Dianne Little today told the inquest into Matthew's death he had no injuries - either external or internal - that could have caused him to lose consciousness.

Last moments of teen lifesaver's life

She detailed up to a dozen cuts, scratches and bruises on the 14-year-old's face but said they all occurred after he died from being ''buffeted around on the ocean floor''.

''I could not find any evidence of any injuries to him (or) any instances of natural disease that would have caused him to collapse,'' Dr Little said.

''There was absolutely nothing I could find at autopsy that would explain why he drowned.''

Barrister Stephen Courtney, for the Barclay family, asked whether it was possible that any of the facial injuries could have occurred before Matthew died.

''Maybe the one above the outer end of the left eye,'' Dr Little said, referring to an abrasion.

''It looked slightly different...''

Mr Courtney referred to a report where a former Queensland pathologist had stated it was possible for a person to be struck in the head hard enough to lose consciousness without it causing a visible injury.

He asked Dr Little whether she agreed it was possible.

''I wouldn't say that it could never happen but I would think it would be incredibly rare,'' she said.

The inquest continues.