Elderly man dies at Boat Harbour
AN 80-year-old man has died after his kayak overturned in the Jack Evans Boat Harbour.
A New South Wales Police spokesman said the death was not being treated suspiciously.
“It appears he may have had a medical episode,” the spokesman said.
Northern NSW Lifeguard co-ordinator Scott McCartney said the incident occurred at 5.20pm yesterday on the northern side of the boat harbour, near Coral Street.
“Two young kids ran up and alerted the lifeguard on duty down at Duranbah Beach that someone had drowned,” Mr McCartney said.
“We’re not sure what has caused the elderly man’s kayak to roll.
“The lifeguard ran over there, at that point a bystander has gone out and dragged him back to the little wharf.
“The lifeguard and ambulance arrived at the same time and the paramedics commenced CPR straight away.
“The paramedics worked on him but unfortunately they couldn’t bring him back.”
Trevor Arbon of Big Trevs Watersports said the man had not hired any of his equipment.
“I noticed a guy out there when I was packing up,” Mr Arbon said.
“He had one of those pedal kayaks.”
Witnesses said police were talking to a woman, believed to be the man’s wife, who was very distraught.
Police said other media reports of the man’s kayak colliding with another boat were incorrect.
