Man dies in Seaway

A MAN died and was almost sucked out of the Gold Coast Seaway yesterday after falling from his tinnie.

Gold Coast Water Police were alerted by the skipper of a yacht who saw a tinnie driving in circles just north of Wavebreak Island without anyone at the helm at 2.30pm.

All available boats were sent to search the area.

The body of the elderly man was spotted by a group of jet skiers in the Gold Coast Seaway being dragged out to sea by the outgoing tide close to 3pm.

Due to rough swells and strong winds the jet skiers lost sight of the man.

But Water police, Volunteer Marine Rescue, the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard, life savers, Gold Coast City lifeguards and the Rescue 500 helicopter launched a full scale search of the area and found him before he was lost to the ocean.

Gold Coast Water Police Senior Sergeant Mitch Gray said the body was located just outside the Seaway at 3.50pm.

Last night the body had yet to be formally identified.

An ambulance was called to Harley Park Public Boat Ramp on Marine Pde to collect the body.

The cause of death is not yet known.