Dr Mick Barry, former Wallabies and Queensland Reds player, drowns at Currumbin Beach
A former Wallabies player and prominent doctor has drowned after suffering a medical episode during an early morning swim on the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Rubbish, filth and grot: Inside Gold Coast’s worst hoarder homes
- Bizarre requests from rich and famous on luxury yachts
- Sacked celeb Hillsong pastor: ‘I cheated on wife’
An elderly man has died after being pulled from the water at a Gold Coast beach this morning.
The victim has been identified as former Wallaby and Queensland Reds player and retired ear, nose and throat specialist Dr Mick Barry, 77.
Dr Barry got into difficulties while swimming at Currumbin Beach, off Pacific Pde, about 5.45am.
He was rescued by onlookers who performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
Dr Barry was a prominent Currumbin local and a member of local surf swimming group known as the Dingos.
A Marist College Old Boy, Dr Barry was a nuggety halfback for the Brothers rugby union club and played one Test for the Wallabies in 1971 against South Africa.
He made his first appearance for Queensland against NSW on 1966 and also played against the British Lions and for the Junior Wallabies against the All Blacks.
Emergency services were called around 5.45am after reports of post-immersion incident at Currumbin Beach.
Paramedics, including the High Acuity Response Unit, and surf lifesaving officials assessed Dr Barry in a critical condition.
Queensland Police confirmed he suffered a medical episode in the surf and tragically passed away at the scene.
Originally published as Dr Mick Barry, former Wallabies and Queensland Reds player, drowns at Currumbin Beach