A midnight swim during a New Year’s Eve camping trip has ended in tragedy after a man drowned in the Mary River.
The body of the 20-year-old was discovered after an extensive search of the area where he went missing at the corner of Traveston Crossing Road and Dobson Road at Kybong.
Police said the man and a group friends had been using car headlights to illuminate the waist-deep water during a swim about midnight.
“They saw the man, turned around and then noticed he had disappeared,” a statement from police media said.
The group raised the alarm which kick-started a frantic search which continued into New Year’s Day involving police, SES and swift water rescue crews from the Queensland Fire and Emergency Service.
The RACQ Lifeflight rescue chopper also assisted with an air search.
Police confirmed the man’s body was found about 80 metres away from where he was last seen.
Acting Sergeant Bill Greer, from Imbil police station, told ABC the man’s friends said he had disappeared within seconds.
“They searched themselves briefly and then quickly called for help,” he said.
“Just devastation. Absolute devastation is the way I would describe it.
“We were obviously all hoping for a very different outcome and our hearts certainly go out to the family of this young man.”
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
