Father, 46, tried to save his son, 17, before both drowned off coast of Australian tourist hotspot

A British begetter drowned trying to prevention his teenage lad aft a almighty question struck disconnected the seashore of an Australian tourer hotspot.

Robin Reed, 46, and Owen, 17, were astatine the Great Barrier Reef successful h2o 'no deeper than waist height' erstwhile the calamity unfolded.

Owen was pulled retired by an 'unexpected wave' prompting Mr Reed to dive into the h2o arsenic determination were nary lifeguards nearby.

Coroner Rose Farmer said astatine an inquest: 'Mr Reed dived into the water, trying to prevention Owen and helium has past besides been swept into the sea.'

A hunt squad aboriginal pulled the begetter and lad from the h2o astatine Seventeen Seventy, Queensland but they were declared dormant astatine the scene.

The pair, from Blackwood, had travelled from Caerphilly, South Wales, for a vacation erstwhile the nightmare took spot connected April 13.

Their provisional origin of decease was fixed by the proceeding successful Newport arsenic drowning and the inquest was adjourned.

Shocked friends of Treowen Stars FC, based adjacent Newbridge successful Caerphilly, shared a tribute.

It read: 'Awful, atrocious quality astir Robin Reed and his lad Owen. Robin was a bully person to galore astatine Treowen and volition beryllium missed.

'Our thoughts and deepest condolences with Robin and Owen's household and friends. 

'Rest successful bid both.'

Seventeen Seventy was named aft the twelvemonth Captain James Cook arrived successful Australia.

The tribunal heard inquiries were ongoing and the inquest was adjourned until a afloat proceeding connected November 12. 

In a erstwhile statement, the Coroners Court of Queensland said: 'The deaths of Mr Robin Reed and his son, Owen person been reported to the Coroners Court of Queensland.

'As the coronial investigations into the deaths are successful archetypal stages, nary further accusation tin beryllium released astatine this time.'

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said it was supporting the families of the tourists.

A 3rd man, from Australia, was airlifted to infirmary with superior caput injuries.

In a Facebook post, CapRescue, a chopper exigency effect team, said: 'Sunday's ngo was a hard one.

'At 2.17pm, exigency services were called to 1770 aft reports 3 radical had been swept retired into the ocean.

'Despite the champion efforts of each involved, 2 radical tragically mislaid their lives.

'One diligent was transported by aerial to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital successful a life-threatening condition.'

A spokesperson for the FCDO said: 'We are supporting the household of 2 British nationals who person died successful Australia and are successful interaction with the section authorities.'