Surf Life Saving's day of shame
Reporter: Robert Ovadia
Producer: Fiona Baker
Researcher: Hannah Boekemann
Date: 25 September 2011
Go to photo gallery
Go to story transcript
Saxon Bird was a super fit teenage lifesaver and a champion ironman. His death at the Australian Life Saving Titles on the Gold Coast in March last year should never have happened.
Officials at Surf Lifesaving Australia let down one of their own the day they allowed Saxon to compete in huge seas caused by a cyclone.
Afterwards, it emerged officials had received and ignored numerous warnings about the worsening weather, and the need to call off the competition. Now in this exclusive Sunday Night investigation, Saxon’s devastated parents speak out for the first time about their son’s death.
Go to media statement to Channel 7 [PDF]
Go to the Coroner's findings [PDF]
Some photos courtesy of Samuel Flesfader, Queensland
