Fate of competition to be decided
THE fate of the national surf life saving competition that claimed the life a young Maroochydore competitor will be decided this afternoon.
Surf Life Saving officials are currently in crisis management meetings to decide whether the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, based at Kurrawa on the Gold Coast, will continue after the death of Matthew Barclay.
Matthew, a Maroochydoore Surf Club member, drowned during a under-15s race yesterday.
His board washed up on Kurrawa Beach yesterday afternoon, sparking a frantic search by police, helicopters and surf life savers.
His body was found this morning just north of where he entered the water.
The competition has been suspended today.
Surf Life Saving Australia chief executive Brett Williamson said a decision on whether the event would continue would be made by 4pm "at the latest."
"The decision will include whether all or some events are continued somewhere," he said.
"It will be a decision based on a lot of inputs and that will be done in the next couple of hours."
Mr Williamson said the competition committee were seeking extra advice from competitors and leading advisers.
Asked whether the competition would go ahead tomorrow, Mr Williamson gave his "personal opinion" and said "it would be pretty tough to run the event tomorrow."
