Family wants surfer son's death to prompt change

The family of a surfer killed at a popular South West beach hopes his death will prompt surfers to be more aware of each other and adopt a buddy system so those in trouble get help quickly.

Glen Turner, 33, went to the South West last Thursday to find waves before a scheduled return on Friday at 6pm.

When he did not walk through his Greenfields door and a news report said a man was killed at Yallingup, his partner of 12 years Sharon went into a panic.

When police knocked an hour later, she already knew the love of her life was gone.

Surfing at the Supertubes break off Smiths beach, it is believed the father of Joshua, 14, and stepfather of Lochlan, 15, was dumped off a wave, hitting his head on his board.

Mr Turner, whose life revolved around his family and surfing, drifted out until fellow surfer Brett Herring noticed his empty board.

Mr Herring pulled Mr Turner on to his board and was quickly joined by other surfers.

A surfer named Darren worked with Mr Herring to perform CPR as they floated in the water.

They tried desperately to revive him for 20 minutes before being able to get him into an ambulance.

St John volunteer ambulance officers continued to try to resuscitate Mr Turner until they arrived at Busselton Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

His death is the third fatal surfing accident in the South West in six months and the second at Smiths beach since August.

Mr Turner's younger sister Anita recalls her brother expressing fears about getting dunked just two days earlier.

"I don't like getting dumped … You get dumped, you'll be searching for air but you'll always come up and it gives you the confidence to go for a bigger wave and therefore a bigger drop and more time under, but you always fight to make it to the surface," Ms Turner said he told her.

But for the man his family describe as a "rough diamond with a heart of gold", nothing could stop him getting out into the ocean.

"He enjoyed the solitude of it, the peace and calm the water brought him," Ms Turner said.

She and his parents Richard and Yvonne want their son's death to change the mentality of surfers who, by the general nature of their sport, are usually alone and do not have the benefit of lifeguards looking out for them, so they should look out for each other.

"Glen would be more than happy to be out there by himself and feeling free, so in a sense, you've got to change that culture and find a way to work through that to convince surfers, for their own benefit," they said.

"We want people to think of Glen's situation and instil in them the importance to think about the consequences for another surfer or even for themselves and the effect it has for family and friends."

Mr Herring said he wished he had noticed Mr Turner's disappearance earlier and it was important for surfers to count heads and check on fellow surfers.

"It's something we need to work on as surfers," he said.

"We need to learn and we can all be better. It shouldn't take something like this.

"We as surfers can come up with better techniques to look out for each other."

The Turner family praised the strangers who tried to bring Mr Turner back to life and hope surfers in particular recognise the importance of knowing CPR.

They would appreciate anyone who helped him to come forward so they can thank them.