Man dead at Greenmount beach on the Gold Coast after tragic early morning surf

TRIBUTES are flowing for a long-serving firefighter and passionate surfer who died in the water off one of the Gold Coast’s most popular beaches this morning. Friends say his beloved family are ‘absolutely broken’ by his sudden death.

TRIBUTES are flowing for a long-serving firefighter and passionate surfer who died in the water off one of the Gold Coast’s most popular beaches this morning.

John Macnamara has been hailed as a ‘very special man’ who was a friend to all and ‘the most loveable, honest and happiest guys’.

The 70-year-old, who was the long-time station officer at Coolangatta-Bilinga fire station, tragically died this morning while paddleboard surfing with a friend off Snapper Rocks at Greenmount Beach.

John Macnamara retired in 2013 after 39 years and 10 months of service at the Coolangatta-Bilinga Fire Station.

Mr Macnamara is believed to have had a heart attack before falling into the water and hitting his head on a submerged rock around 4.40am.

He was pulled from the water unconscious by his friend but could not be revived despite the efforts of emergence services.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Greenmount local Bill Scholer has been friends with Mr McNamara for many years.

“Johnny is out here every morning at the crack of dawn and at the first glimpse of light,” Mr Scholer said.

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Friends and family gathered at Greenmount beach this morning after McMcnamara’s tragic death. Picture: Tweed Daily News

“He just celebrated his 70th birthday, and even at his age he would always be as enthusiastic as a little grommet to go out for a surf every morning.”

Mr Scholer said Mr Macnamara’s family, including his wife, two children, and 11 grandchildren were “broken” by the news.

“He has a big family and they are all so broken,” Mr Scholer said.

“He was the most loveable, honest and happiest guys.

“He’s had a wonderful life and it’s very sad to see it come to an end.”

John Macnamara with friends Gary Paxton, Brian Peters and Steve Madonna when he retired.

More than 100 of Mr Macnamara’s family and friends gathered at Greenmount beach in the hours after his death, comforting his widow and watching over the scene.

They clapped and cheered in tribute to his life as the hearse carrying his body left the scene just before 9am.

A police officer was seen shaking hands and hugging some of his mates.

Four young adults arrived just before the hearse drove away and had their last moments as they hugged the man’s body and said goodbye

One of Mr McNamara’s best mates was Lori Pinniger, known as “Curly” has been friends with him for almost 50 years.

Friends and family comfort each other. Picture: Tweed Daily News

The pair met when the late surfer started working at the fire station.

“I’ve known him for 46 years. We’ve surfed all around the Coast since 1973,” he said.

“We became friends straight away as there wasn’t many surfing firefighters back then, so we stuck together.”

The pair ended up spending nearly the next five decades doing everything together in life.

“We had wives and kids come along around the same time,” Mr Pinniger said.

“Once the kids were old enough we and bought cars for them together.

“We probably spent every day together for 45 years.”

Lifeguards and emergency services at Greenmount beach this morning. Picture: Emily Halloran

Mr Pinniger, among hundreds of others is morning the loss of his best friend, but he said the saddest is how hurt Mr McNamara family is.

“The saddest thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life was his wife and daughter laying with his body in the sand,” he said.

“It’s such an incredible loss for his family, and for everyone who met him.

“He was a very special man who will be missed by all.”

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Family and friends of the surfer at the scene. Picture: Emily Halloran

“He loved to entertain and make jokes. He had a wonderful time,” a friend told the Gold Coast Bulletin.

Mr McNamara is said to have been a keen surfers for years, but over the last couple of years he started to have problems with his knee, which made him start paddle boarding.

Surfers flock to the superbank regularly.

Big swell, big surf, big names

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Planning is already underway for a tribute to Mr McNamara’s life.

“It will be the biggest paddle out Coolangatta has ever had,” Mr Scholer said.

“He was one of the most favourite guys in the area.”

Snapper Rocks is one of the Gold Coast’s best-regarded surf breaks, with huge crowds flocking to the famed beach.

Snapper Rocks.

World champion locals Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning are often seen in the area.

Acting Gold Coast chief lifeguard Chris Maynard said Mr McNamara was found floating face down in the water.

“It is quite a tragedy at this time of year,” he said.

“Any incident in the ocean is a tragedy.”

Known as the ‘superbank’, surfers can get the best ride when there is a southerly swell and south-easterly wind.

In recent years it has become so popular with both locals and travelling surfers that there have been calls to cap the number of people surfing the break or to have amateur surfers stay clear.

This call was backed by Fanning and other world champion surfers.