A windsurfer has died off the coast of Shoalwater, with police and paramedics making the tragic discovery after responding to the activation of a personal locator beacon.
A maritime search and rescue operation was launched with the participation of the Aquatic Police, Marine Rescue, Air Wing Police, Rockingham Police and St John’s Ambulance after the beacon had been activated towards at 3:30 p.m. today.
Police said upon arriving at the search area, police and paramedics found an unresponsive man on the beach along Arcadia Drive, between Penguin and Seaforth roads.
Camera Icon A windsurfer has died off the coast of Shoalwater, with police and paramedics making the tragic discovery after responding to the activation of a personal locator beacon. Credit: 7NEWS / 7NEWS
“The dead man is believed to have been windsurfing in the area when another windsurfer was found lying on his table,” a WA police statement said.
“The second windsurfer placed the unresponsive man at his own table and tried to give first aid on the way back to the shore.
He also activated a personal location beacon to alert authorities that he was in danger, prompting the deployment of police, DFES Marine Rescue personnel and St. John’s Ambulance at the scene.
“Tragically, the man, who is about 50 years old, could not be resurrected and died at the scene.”
A forensic report will now be prepared.
Police are asking anyone who was in the Shoalwater beach area on Thursday afternoon and noticed that a windsurfer was in danger, and had not yet spoken to police, to call Crime Stoppers at 1800 333,000 .