Final swim fatal
FAMILIES on two continents have been shattered after a body was found washed up on Marcus Beach on Wednesday.
It was believed to be that of a 37-year-old Brisbane father of two, who went missing in rough surf off Peregian Beach on Sunday afternoon.
The man, of German origin, was on a day trip to the Sunshine Coast when he decided to take one final swim at an unpatrolled Peregian Beach as his wife fed their seven-month-old child.
It was the last time he was seen alive.
A full scale air, land and sea search for him was launched when the alarm was raised about 3.30pm on Sunday.
Water Police, Coast Guard and volunteer surf lifesavers took part in the search.
His death was an unfortunate end to the surf lifesaving season, which wrapped up on Monday, Labour Day.
Surf Life Saving Queensland Sunshine Coast services co-ordinator Aaron Purchase said it was the first and only fatality on a Coast beach this season.
The drowning of a 49-year-old surfer at Moffat beach in February was not taken into account because the victim was believed to have suffered an underlying medical condition.
The 2010-11 surf lifesaving season was fatality-free.
In 2009-10, two people drowned off Coast beaches.
On Monday afternoon, district inspector Mark Henderson read a short statement from the family, thanking the surf lifesavers, emergency services and the people of Peregian for their effort and support.
"The devoted husband and father of two will be sorely missed by families on two continents," it read.
The man's wife had been supported on the Coast by her sister and brother-in-law.
Queensland Police Service in a statement issued Wednesday morning wrote that although formal identification had yet to occur, the family of the missing man had been advised of the discovery.
