Respected surgeon and former national rugby union representative Dr Mick Barry has died after being pulled from the water on the Gold Coast.
Ambulance crews were called to the beach near the Currumbin Surf Life Saving Club just before 6:00am today.
Police said the 78-year-old was swimming with a group of five friends when they got caught in a rip.
District Duty Officer Brendan Wiblen said the other swimmers made it to shore and attempted CPR until ambulance crews arrived.
"A 78-year-old Miami man and five of his long-time friends went for a daily swim in the ocean near the Currumbin Vikings Surf Club," District Duty Officer Wiblen said.
"Once in the water they experienced a strong southerly pull in the water.
"They started to struggle, one was pulled to the beach by his friends.
"They realised that the male who died was still in the water struggling so they went back in and pulled him in too.
"At some point he's suffered a medical episode.
"His friends and the ambulance attempted to give him CPR but he was unable to be revived."
Swimmers distressed
Police said no was else was injured but the victim's friends are traumatised.
"They were distressed that something as tragic as this has happened on one of their routine daily activities," District Duty Officer Wiblen said.
"He was well known to the local community down there."
Dr Barry was a prominent member of a local surf swimming group known as The Dingos.
Shiike Vanderwerff, a personal trainer at the surf club, said the morning swim was the highlight of Dr Barry's day.
"One of my clients, Brian, and I performed CPR on the beach," he said.
"They'll be hurting. Mick was one of the originals.
"He'll be remembered very fondly.
"He's been dissecting the last three Wallabies tests for us all.
"Great bloke, very fond memories."
Respected medical specialist
Chief lifeguard Warren Young said the water was clean and clear at the time, but there was a current.
"It was a beautiful morning, some current in the water though — right along the coast at the present time.
"It's very sad."
Dr Barry was a retired ear, nose, and throat specialist, a former halfback for the Brothers Rugby Union Club, and played one Test for the Wallabies in 1971 against South Africa.
He made his first appearance for Queensland against NSW on 1966, and played against the British Lions and for the Junior Wallabies against the All Blacks.
Senior operations supervisor Paul Young from Queensland Ambulance Service said the tragedy is a timely reminder for people to learn CPR.
"Know how to do CPR, you might never know when you might need it," he said.
"Whether it's your friend, family, or a bystander, you might save their life."
