4.90 Man, 67, dies off island beach

A GROUP of young Japanese students could only watch as a man was pulled from the water and died while snorkelling off Green Island yesterday.

Emergency services were called about 1pm after the 67year-old Japanese tourist was spotted unconscious in the water by resort staff.

Off-duty doctors and lifeguards worked to try and revive the man and the Rescue 510 helicopter was flown to the scene, but he was pronounced dead.

It is understood he had been on a day trip to the island with his wife and the couple had hired snorkelling equipment.

They were believed to have been snorkelling between the flags on the main beach.

Cairns police Sen-Sgt John Rhodes said the man’s wife was receiving support from the local consulate.

“We are preparing a report for the Coroner,” he said.

The incident came just a week after a Korean tourist died while snorkelling off Lizard Island near Cooktown.

North Queensland lifeguard supervisor Jay March said counselling would be offered to the lifeguards who were at the scene.

“It is a very important part of the whole process, support is there if they need it,” Mr March said.

“There were some Japanese school groups out there, which made things even worse.”

Green Island has been identified as one of Queensland’s most dangerous beaches in recent years, just behind Surfers Paradise in terms of drowning fatalities.

The most recent drowning involved a 68-year-old male Chinese tourist last February.

Figures released last year showed there had been seven drowning deaths on the island within the past 10 years, one fewer than Surfers.

Surf Lifesaving Queensland officials have raised concerns over the site after a lack of funding forced them to cut a third lifeguard position.

The position was initially funded by SLSQ with hopes of State Government funding which never eventuated.

THERE WERE SOME JAPANESE SCHOOL GROUPS OUT THERE, WHICH MADE THINGS EVEN WORSE NORTH QUEENSLAND LIFEGUARD SUPERVISOR JAY MARCH