NSW: Elderly canoeist dies after storm hits
30 Dec 2008 6:11 AM
SYDNEY, Dec 30 AAP - An elderly man has died after being thrown from his canoe in a strong thunderstorm off the NSW mid-north coast.
The 74-year-old from Newcastle was canoeing with three friends from Bungwahl to Tea Gardens at Myall Lake about 3.30pm (AEDT) on Monday when a violent thunderstorm struck, police said.
In choppy waters, about 500 metres from the Bombah Point Ferry, the men were thrown from their two canoes.
Two of them made it to shore and sought help from locals with a runabout.
A third canoeist was found hanging onto his upturned craft and rescued.
A short time later, rescuers found the fourth man in the water.
He was taken to shore where a doctor and nurse performed CPR until paramedics arrived.
The man was taken to hospital but was declared dead on arrival, police said.
The dead man's life jacket, his canoe and its contents have been secured pending detailed analysis by crime scene officers.
The victim is yet to be formally identified.
