National Life Saver Killed During Competition

The Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast, Australia, was empty, as spectators were asked to leave and the competition was called off. A teenage competitor in the Australian Surf Life-Saving Championships died. It is believed he was knocked unconscious by a ski, in rough waters.

Saxon Bird, 19, was missing for an hour in seas churned up by Tropical Cyclone Ului, before being pulled from the water. Rescuers managed to revive him but he later died at the Gold Coast Hospital.

The decision to continue with the championships, despite the danger, is now the focus of a police investigation.

Bird was a national title-holder in surf life-saving, which merges lifeguard services and competitive surfing. He was competing in the under-19s Ironman when it is thought he was hit on the back of the head by a stray ski.

Onlookers were ordered off the beach as up to 10 inflatable rescue boats and three jet-skis searched the waves looking for Bird.

Coach Damien Bailey informed Australia's Channel Ten News: "He was an outstanding young man - boy, really - he just had everything."
The Ironman Surf Life Saving competition joins the four major disciplines of surf life-saving into a single race; swimming, board paddling, ski paddling and running.

The weather and water conditions had been bad for most of the week of the championships and grew progressively worse. At one point the competitors had declined to race because of the prevailing conditions.

In 1996 a 15 year-old surf life-saver drowned at the same beach, in similar conditions, during the national titles.

Surf Life Saving was established in Australia in the early 20th century, in response to drownings at local beaches in Sydney. Volunteer groups of men were trained in life saving techniques and patrolled specific sections of the beach, looking after public safety.

The particular sport of the Surf Life Saving Ironman was developed in Australia in 1964. In 1989 the sport was taken one step further and became one of the highlights of the Australian sports calendar, with television coverage. This is not to be confused with the Ironman triathlon.

About National Life Saver Killed During Competition
The death of the national title holder, during the Australian Life Saving Championships has caused a police investigation.
For more information:http://www.tropicpost.com/tropical-cyclone-ului-claimed-life-savers-life/
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