Daniel Brown: Fraser Coast dad dies after K’gari jet ski tragedy

A young personal trainer and father with a passion for water sports and living life to the full was enjoying a spectacular day with friends on the water between K’gari and Hervey Bay when the unthinkable happened.

The loss of Daniel Brown is being mourned by his loved ones.

On a stunning day out with his friends on K’gari, young Fraser Coast father Daniel Brown was having the time of his life.

The 35-year-old and his mates had travelled to the island on jet skis on July 12, 2025, enjoying the perfect weather and crystal-clear waters.

They spotted whales out on the water and had a delicious lunch at Kingfisher Bay Resort, before deciding it was time to head back to the mainland.

Soon after speaking to his wife Maria on the phone about 2.30pm, Daniel was jet-skiing back to Hervey Bay with a friend on the back, laughing and chatting, when he suffered a sudden and deadly “medical episode”, falling off the jetski, pulling the lifevest key out and bringing the machine to a halt.

His co-passenger desperately pulled Daniel back up onto the jetski, called triple-0 and let off a flare gun, alerting a nearby boat, which rushed over to the scene.

Three of them helped get Daniel on board and all of them of them took turns performing CPR, but he was unresponsive.

On reaching the shore, waiting paramedics took over performing CPR.

But they too were unable to revive him.

Sharing the tragic loss, Daniel’s sister Monique said she was incredibly grateful to everyone who had tried to save her brother that day.

Daniel grew up in Adelaide, attending Magill Primary School, followed by Pembroke High School, graduating Year 12 in 2007.

He was driven to achieve and succeed, Monique said.

Daniel Brown with wife Maria.

“He was always motivated to achieve more and be more and saw potential in not only himself, but everyone around him,” she said.

“He always wanted to help people reach that potential in any way he possibly could, whether it be to improve their work ethic and financial stability, fitness and health achievements or advice on pursuing hobbies and embracing life.

“He was selfless; he loved to make people laugh and he made sure to live life to the fullest every single day.”

Daniel played cricket, football and rugby throughout his schooling years.

After graduating, he focused his fitness journey on body building, health and nutrition, becoming a personal trainer, massage therapist and health and nutrition coach.

He opened his own private gym called Project Fit in Thebarton, South Australia and then upgraded and opened a new and improved private gym in Newton.

He entered fitness and bodybuilding competitions all around Australia, receiving multiple medals and trophies.

Dan moved to Hervey Bay with his partner Maria in 2020, to enjoy a life by the water and indulge in his love for the beach, water sports like boating, fishing and jet-skiing, and to have a more relaxed lifestyle.

On September 14, 2023, Maria gave birth to their son, Christos.

“In October 2024, Dan married my beautiful sister-in-law, Maria Brown in Renmark, South Australia,” Monique said.

“It was an incredibly beautiful wedding – magical, if you will.

“We had lots of family and friends attend; it was a huge event and a beautiful ceremony to celebrate the love of Dan and Maria.

“Dan and Maria were together for 15 years – they were madly in love with each other and partners for life.

“Maria is incredibly heartbroken at the loss of Dan, as she now has to find a way to live on without the love of her life and the father of her gorgeous child, Christos.

The loss of Daniel Brown is being mourned by his loved ones.

“Dan was so proud of Christos and loved being a father.

“It is absolutely gut wrenching to think he won’t get to see him grow up.”

Daniel was also very close to his siblings, Monique and their brother Matt.

“Dan, Matt and I shared a bond far deeper than just siblings; we were best friends and teammates in life that always had each other’s backs,” Monique said.

“Dan was the protective older brother that would always look out for us – he had a special connection with Matt, full of brotherly banter and shared adventures.

“They had similar hobbies growing up, whether it was backyard cricket, school sports, riding bikes until the streetlights came on, playing video games or painting Warhammer figures together.

“With me, Dan was both gentle and supportive – he constantly checked in on me, always concerned for my wellbeing and happiness – he made it extremely obvious how much he loved his little sister and always spoke about how he wanted to see me find true love and chase my dreams.

“When around Dan, I always found myself laughing to the point of tears and thriving from the energy he would give off.

“I looked up to him, he was such an inspiration for me and my brother Matt.

“Our family has always been extremely close as well, especially through our childhood years.

“We travelled a lot together, from flying to Bali numerous times, to driving through parts of Queensland and New South Wales to experience the country drives and learn background history of our country.

“We went to Hawaii in 2013, as our last family holiday all together, as we were all getting busy with uni, partners and growing up, an incredible holiday I’ll never forget.

“From attending concerts, to hosting big house parties for birthdays, to trips away with family friends, we were extremely privileged growing up and have fond memories to carry with us forever.”

A GoFundMe page set up to support a bright future for Christos has already raised more than $8000.

A funeral will be held for Daniel on August 1, 2025, at St John Anglican Church in Wondunna from 11am.

Originally published as Daniel Brown: Fraser Coast dad dies after K’gari jet ski tragedy