Gold Coast doctor's body found after 'brave' act to save fisherman
The body of a 35-year-old doctor who was swept out to sea while trying to rescue a fisherman has been found on a Gold Coast beach.
Luqman Jubair, 35, along with two other men tried to help a fisherman who was knocked over by a wave at a beach in Miami on Thursday about 6pm (local time).
The fisherman was brought to safety, but Dr Jubair never made it back to land and despite an extensive land, air and water search he wasn't found until early Saturday morning.
Police said members of the public found the body of a 35-year-old Southport man in waters off Mermaid Beach.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
Acting Chief Superintendent Rhys Wildman said on Friday police had contacted Dr Jubair's family in Queensland and interstate.
He said the two other men involved in the rescue and the fisherman were still coming to terms with the situation.
"At the time they were focused very much on recovering the initial male, who was in some difficulty," he said.
"Whilst that person was recovered, obviously as the situation unfolded, the full realisation is now coming to light.
"Obviously our thoughts are with them as well."
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Doctor's death a 'loss for humanity'
Speaking to ABC Radio, Dr Jubair's colleague Professor Nigel McMillan explained the 35-year-old had moved from Iraq to Australia in 2014 "for opportunity".
Prof McMillan said Dr Jubair was very talented, driven to help others, a great friend and colleague, and he would be "sorely missed".
Given his desire to help others, Prof McMillan said going into the water to try and help the fisherman was part of who Dr Jubair was.
"His act was singularly brave and fitting given his life’s work was dedicated to helping others," Prof McMillan said in a Facebook post.
"He will be missed and I think the world has lost someone who had not only already made a difference, but for whom I feel even bigger things were to come."
Dr Jubair was not only a qualified doctor, but also a cancer researcher at Griffith University and his colleague said he intended to go into genetic medicine.
"I think his best work was probably ahead of him in terms of the things he would have done in the future," Prof McMillan said.
"So it's a loss for humanity."
On Facebook, Prof McMillan said Dr Jubair was the first person in the world to prove CRISPR, gene editing technology, could be used to cure cancer.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Dr Jubair was working within a Covid ward.
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