Tuesday 24 January 2012

Snorkeller passed away on board

: Saxon Reef is accessible from Cairns. Click to enlarge.

The British tourist who passed away while on a trip to Saxon Reef last Tuesday was not snorkelling at the time of his death.

While some in the tourism industry believe the association between the passing away of a visitor and the activity they undertake on the reef is often misrepresented in the media, Col McKenzie spokesperson for Dive Queensland, is not concerned.

"I don't think it affects us (the reef tour industry) much at all. I think most people accept that when you carry 2 million people a year in the industry you're going to have some that will turn their toes up, it's inevitable," Mr McKenzie said.

"In this case it came over as a snorkelling and diving death, but I can tell you categorically that he was not snorkelling at the time he was standing talking to the skipper after he'd got out of the water, dried himself, and changed his clothes."

While a number of media reports described Saxon Reef as being 50km from Port Douglas, The Newsport has been made aware that no Port Douglas reef tour operators visit Saxon Reef.

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Dave Hill, 26-01-12 00:11:

Shocked to note that Col Mckenzie is no stranger to being cntroversial following the deaths of tourists. Look up his comments on Tom & Eileen Lonergan (Jan 98): "...the coroner ... dismissed suggestions that the Lonergans had either committed suicide or faked their own disappearance. Further, according to the Port Douglas police, Dive Queensland spokesman Col. McKenzie was directly involved with and possibly responsible for spreading theories that the Lonergans had faked their deaths".

Surely Dive Queensland should releive this insensitive individual of his duties as their Spokesman without hesitation.

Dave Hill, 25-01-12 20:44:

Thanks Richard and thanks to the editor for the correction.

No reaction from Col McKenzie I see - we have several words in England for people like that! Shame on him

Richard , 25-01-12 18:06:

Agree with your comments Dave especially with regards to Col McKenzie's choice of words. You are not the only one who thinks they were disrespectful. Sorry for the loss of your friend.

The Newsport Editor , 25-01-12 09:45:

Hello Dave

Please accept our apology for inaccurately reporting your friend's nationality, we have amended our article accordingly.

Editor

Dave Hill, 25-01-12 03:19:

I'm shocked to read these stories not least because the individual concerned was one of my very dearest friends. While reports now have his age correct, he was British and not Irish.

As to the comments by Col McKenzie ("you're going to have some that will turn their toes up, it's inevitable"), I find them unbelievably disrepectful and deeply offensive under the circumstances.

As spokesman for Dive Queensland, he should be thoroughly ashamed of them and apologies unreservedly and immediatley for the offence caused.

Dam , 24-01-12 11:07:

I read this on the ABC news website. Headline read snorkeller dies off Port Douglas !!! Seriously, it was a Cairns boat and the media should have reported that some one died on a Cairns boat whilst visiting the reefs of Port.

Craig Burkill, 24-01-12 09:56:

1st rule of journalism ... "never let the facts get in the way of a good story..."