State Coroner makes changes following Matthew Barclay's death
The tragic death of 14-year-old Matthew Barclay has prompted the State Coroner, Terry Ryan, to issue stern recommendations for future races including compulsory helmets and lifejackets for young competitors.
Barclay lost his life four years ago during an Australian Surf Life Saving championship at Kurrawa during rough weather conditions.
Matthew was the third teenager to drown at the championships.
Saxon Bird, 19, died in 2010 and Robert Gatenby, 15, died in 1996 while competing.
The Coroner said he didn’t accept Matthew simply drowned during the competition and stated the teen was possibly knocked unconscious, possibly by his own board, while negotiating a shallow sandbank in rough seas.
Coroner recommends mandatory helmets & lifejackets for surf craft events involving children following Matt Barclay death @7NewsQueensland
— michelle rattray (@MichelleRattray) January 15, 2016
Matthew’s body was carried away due to the strong currents present on the day, and his body wasn’t discovered until the following day.
Ryan cleared officials who allowed Matthew's race to go ahead in the dangerous conditions.
The Coroner said the only thing that could have saved the teen was a floatation device.
In reaction to the findings today Matthew Barclay's father believes his son might still be alive if safety changes recommended by a Coroner were in effect at the 2012 Surf Life Saving Championships.
He has however welcomed the recommendations.
"If they had been in place after the death of (19-year-old lifesaver) Saxon Bird, then perhaps Matthew's inquest may not have been necessary," he told reporters.
"We do feel let down in some ways."
Mr Ryan found that only a crewed rubber ducky or jetski could have retrieved Matthew's limp body within the crucial five-minute timeframe before he sank below the waves.
Two solo jetski operators were on the water during Matthew's race but the crewed rubber ducky was ashore.
The coroner said it should be a requirement that future events didn't start unless a crewed jetski or inflatable rubber boat was in the competition area.
Matthew Barclay's dad says if Coroner's recommendations were in place after Saxon Bird death, Matthew might not have died @7NewsQueensland
— michelle rattray (@MichelleRattray) January 15, 2016
Surf Life Saving Australia president Graham Ford said lifejackets in heavy surf were currently being tested and were well on the way to being implemented.
"We're committed to it, and we've already implemented a number of recommendations of the original coronial inquest into the death of Saxon Bird," he told reporters.
News break – January 15
