Body found in search for hero dad missing at Lake Tinaroo near Cairns

Thick weeds lying beneath the water’s surface likely contributed to the drowning death of a hero dad at Lake Tinaroo in Far North Queensland.

Thick aquatic weed is understood to have contributed to the drowning of the 49-year-old Atherton man at a Far North Queensland dam on Sunday.

A body was located on Monday afternoon at Lake Tinaroo on the Atheron Tablelands, believed to be a hero dad who went missing after saving his two sons from drowning.

At about 11am on Sunday, it’s understood the man and his two sons aged 11 and 8 swam to an island 100m from the Church St boat ramp near the Lake Tinaroo Holiday Park.

When returning to shore the trio got into trouble.

SES drone image of the search for an Atherton man revealing thick weed growth at Lake Tinaroo on Sunday. Picture: SES

While the boys made it safely to shore with the help of their father, the man slipped beneath the water and failed to resurface.

Police search co-ordinator Sergeant Winifred Weiss said a vast network of aquatic weed beneath the surface of the lake could become a trap for swimmers.

“It’s likely that the weeds in the water, which are quite thick and very tough, could have trapped the missing person and once you’re trapped in the weeds then water gets into your lungs,”

“Whilst there was that surface chop, it’s not like that now and we don’t think there’s a lot of current under the water.

Police divers and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services personnel search the waters off the Lake Tinaroo boat ramp for the body of a 49 year old Atherton man, who was swimming in the lake around 11am Sunday and failed to resurface. Photo: Brendan Radke

“It’s quite dangerous in there because (divers) have to actually swim through and push the underwater weed aside to be able to see or feel anything and they’ve got to search all the different levels in the water, so it’s very difficult.”

The children were assessed by paramedics on scene, and were not physically injured.

Emergency crews first began the search for their father around noon on Sunday and remained in the water until 11.30pm without result.

Specialist divers resumed the search on Monday morning and at around 3pm, divers located a body in the water.

SES volunteers assist police divers and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services personnel searching the waters off the Lake Tinaroo boat ramp for the body of a 49 year old Atherton man, who was swimming in the lake around 11am Sunday and failed to resurface. Photo: Brendan Radke

Police search co-ordinator Sergeant Winfried Weiss said conditions on the surface water on Monday were ideal for the successful recovery of the man’s body after major wind chop hampered efforts on Sunday.

Sgt Weiss said water turbidity had reduced underwater visibility to less than 1m.

An underwater robotic drone arrived at scene to assist with the search at 3pm on Monday.

One heartbroken family member kept a lakeside vigil desperate for updates on the loss of his son-in-law but declined to make a formal comment.

Police divers and Queensland Fire and Emergency Services personnel search the waters off the Lake Tinaroo boat ramp for the body of a 49 year old Atherton man, who was swimming in the lake around 11am Sunday and failed to resurface. Photo: Brendan Radke

Sgt Weiss credited the Atherton father with saving the lives of his two boys in the ultimate act of love that cost his own life.

“It’s just a really unfortunate event and highlights how dangerous water can be,” he said.

“(This incident) highlights the danger that you can face when you’re swimming.”

Assets deployed to assist in the search on Sunday included police on foot, water police, QGAIR Rescue 510 helicopter, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service officers, the dive squad along with members of the public on boats and jet skis.

Originally published as Body found in search for hero dad missing at Lake Tinaroo near Cairns