the 2010 drowning of ironman Saxon Bird, The Australian reports.
Surf life saving authorities defended their safety measures today as Christopher Branson, QC, lawyer for the Bird family at an inquest last year, demanded the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships never again be held at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast. He also called for a royal commission.
Competition at the 2012 championships was suspended before searchers at Kurrawa this morning found the body of missing teenage competitor Matthew Barclay.
The 14-year-old disappeared under the waves at Kurrawa yesterday afternoon during the running of heats in the under-15 paddle board race.
Barclay, from the Maroochydore club north of Brisbane, and another competitor collided as competitors headed out to the turning buoys. Barclay's board then washed up on the beach and a full-scale search was launched involving Westpace Surf Rescue and Queensland Police helicopters, inflatable rescue boats, surf skis and fellow surf lifesavers.
Read more on The Australian
