Tourist drowns at popular Queensland snorkelling spot

Shipwrecks at Moreton Island off the coast of Brisbane in Queensland, Australia

A tourist has drowned while swimming at Tangalooma shipwrecks off Moreton Island in Queensland.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the man, who is believed to be an American tourist, was swimming with his female partner before he was pulled unconscious from the water.

A Queensland Police Service spokeswoman told News Corp that attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.

It is being reported the man suffered from a medical condition and was taken to hospital before he passed away

The shipwrecks date back to 1963 and 1984 when the state government scuttled them close to the beach just north of Tangalooma Island Resort. The ships have become a popular place for swimmers, snorkellers and kayakers according to the Telegraph.

There are warnings against swimming from the beach to the shipwrecks on the Tangalooma website which states a strong current “sweeps between the wrecks and the beach when the tide is running, so don’t try and swim against it”.

“The Tangalooma wrecks are an unpatrolled beach meaning there is no lifesavers on duty. There are also a large number of inexperienced boats and jetskies passing through between the wrecks and the beachfront, please take care when swimming across,” the website advises.

Snorkelling tours are provided as a safer option than visiting the site alone.

The man who drowned was not participating in a tour or cruise offered by the resort.

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