Father and son who drowned on dream holiday to Australia's Great Barrier Reef after being swept out to sea are named
A British father and son who died after drowning while on a dream holiday to Australia have today been named.
Robin Reed, 46, and his son Owen, 17, from Caerphilly, South Wales, were swept out to sea on April 13 while swimming at Round Hill Head - a beach without lifeguards - in Seventeen Seventy, Queensland.
A police helicopter was dispatched over the Great Barrier Reef at 2.17pm in an attempt to rescue the father and son, but they were sadly declared dead when pulled from the water.
Now, Treowen Stars FC - a local football club based near Newbridge in Caerphilly - have shared a tribute to the pair on social media.
It read: 'Awful news. Robin was a good friend to many at Treowen and will be missed. Our thoughts and deepest condolences with Robin and Owen's family and friends. Rest in peace both.'
The Coroners Court of Queensland said investigations into the deaths are in 'initial stages' and that there would be no further information released.
Meanwhile the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is supporting the Reed family and are in communications with UK authorities.
In the attempts to rescue Robin and Owen, police rescued a third man - a 37-year-old from Monto, Queensland - and airlifted him to hospital with serious head injuries.
Robin Reed (right) and his son Owen (left) from Caerphilly, South Wales, were swept out to sea on April 13 while swimming at Round Hill Head - a beach without lifeguards - in Seventeen Seventy, Queensland
A police helicopter was dispatched over the Great Barrier Reef at 2.17pm in an attempt to rescue the father and son, but they were sadly declared dead when pulled from the water (Pictured: Stock Image of Round Hill Head beach)
Treowen Stars FC said Robin (above) 'was a good friend to many at Treowen and will be missed'
In a Facebook post, CapRescue, a helicopter emergency response team, said the mission was 'a difficult one'.
The post read: 'At 2.17pm, emergency services were called to 1770 after reports three people had been swept out into the ocean.
'Despite the best efforts of all involved, two people tragically lost their lives. One patient was transported by air to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital in a life-threatening condition.'
Surf Life Saving Queensland's regional operations manager for Wide Bay and Capricornia, Darren Everard, said the deaths were 'an absolute tragedy'.
Seventeen Seventy is a coastal town at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef and was named after the year Captain James Cook arrived in Australia.
