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An inquest has heard how a father bravely tried to save his teenage son from drowning before they both succumbed to the sea in Queensland, Australia.

Robin Reed and his son Owen, from Blackwood, were at Round Hill Head beach, in Seventeen Seventy, with other family members when they were swept out to sea on Sunday April 13.

The area is at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef. 

A Gwent Coroner’s Court hearing in Newport was told that 17-year-old Owen Reed was in waist-height water with the family’s children, about half a metre from them, when an “unexpected wave” took him further out to sea.

His father, 46-year-old Robin Reed, dived in to grab his son, with his brother-in-law, but was also swept out. Mr Reed’s brother-in-law was washed back to shore.

Search and rescue attended and found Mr Reed and his son in the sea deceased.

Coroner Rose Farmer said a cause of death provided by the Australian Coroner’s office was found to be consistent with drowning.

Inquiries are ongoing and the inquest was adjourned for a full hearing on November 12.

Paying tribute on Facebook at the time of their deaths, Treowen Stars Football Club posted: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences with Robin and Owen’s family and friends.

“Robin was a good friend to many at Treowen and will be missed.

“Rest in peace both.”
More than £7,300 has been raised for the family via the GoFundMe website.