Catholic old scholar found dead on Great Barrier Reef
An old scholar from a prestigious Brisbane school has been reportedly named as the spearfisher found dead in the Great Barrier Reef on Saturday.
The Old Boys Association of Iona College, an all-boys catholic school in Lindum, has paid tribute to former student Louis McHugh, who has been named as the diver pulled from the water near Batt Reef on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who was working as a martial arts coach in Brisbane, was spearfishing off the coast of Port Douglas when the tragedy occurred.
“The Iona College Old Boys Association and the Iona community are saddened to share the news that Old Boy Louie McHugh (Class of 2020) passed away on Saturday,” the group wrote on their Facebook page.
“All Ionians join together to offer our love, prayers, support and sympathy to Louie’s family and friends as they deal with this devastating loss.”
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Tingalpa martial arts school Progressive Martial Arts also posted a tribute to McHugh.
“It is with a very heavy broken heart that we post the loss of our Louie McHugh,” the post sad.
“I’m lost for words. He was an instructor … a ring fighter, but most of all he was Lou.”
In another statement posted to social media, the Cairns Spearfishing Club said it was “saddened” by the incident.
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“Our thoughts are with the diver’s family, friends, and the wider diving community during this difficult time,” the club wrote.
Police said they were initially notified about a 23-year-old man having fallen overboard from a vessel near Batt Reef about 11.30am.
Boats and helicopters were quickly deployed to help with the search. His body was recovered about 2.20pm.
“Formal identification has yet to be conducted, however officers believe it is to be the 23-year-old man,” a police spokesperson today told InDaily.
Batt Reef, located about 11km north east of Port Douglas, is one of the largest reefs in the Great Barrier Reef system spanning 18km long and 5km wide.
It’s the same reef where Crocodile Hunter Steve Irwin died after be was struck by a stingray barb while filming in 2006.
Queensland Police said report would now be prepared for the coroner.
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