Chilling last words of dad Jake Brown before he was swept out to sea at a Gold Coast’s Paradise Point Parklands after he jumped over a shark net
- Jake Brown, 29, drowned Sunday
- His body was found four hours later
A dad has been found dead on a popular beach after telling his mate to ‘Hold my beer’ before jumping over the edge of a shark net and being swept out to sea.
Jake Brown, 29, was swimming in an enclosed area at Paradise Point Parklands, on the Gold Coast, when he became stuck in the nets about 4pm on Sunday.
Bystanders desperately came to his aid, but were unable to locate him after he was swept away by the current.
His body was found four hours later after a large-scale search involving the water police, Polair and the diving team.
A witness said he saw Mr Brown and his male friend sitting on the net just before the tragedy unfolded.
The man said Mr Brown told his friend to “Hold my beer” before jumping over the edge of the net.
“I said ‘stop’, you could see what was going to happen,” the witness said Courier mail.
‘He tried to jump off but the current took him away, he came up once and I swam towards him but then he went under the net.
Jake Brown, 29, has been found dead after a four-hour search on the Gold Coast
Mr Brown was swimming in the closed area of Paradise Point Parklands (pictured) when he got into trouble at 4pm on Sunday
“It was so damn obvious what was going to happen, so I shouted, ‘Don’t do it!’ It’s so sad.’
Mr Brown’s heartbroken partner Kama Robinson has hit back at trolls online after social media users suggested Mr Brown must have been ‘another refugee’ or ‘couldn’t swim’.
“You’re a maggot,” Mrs. Robinson replied to a troll.
‘This is my partner. He wasn’t just any man, he was a much loved friend, partner, father, brother, son, grandson, [and] uncle.’
“He was a beautiful man whose smile lit up every room he entered [and] Unfortunately we have lost a beautiful person.’
In another tribute, friend Nissa Janbroers wrote: ‘RIP brother, we love you so much.’
The tragedy occurred when the beach was packed with families enjoying the warm weather as temperatures rose to 32 degrees.
Hundreds of beachgoers gathered to watch the frantic search begin, with firefighters taking to the water with snorkels and helicopters circling overhead.
Rescuers were able to search the net on Sunday in the desperate search for Mr Brown
A devastated friend was able to speak to emergency services at the scene
A council spokeswoman said an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy was underway.
“The city is aware of the incident that occurred this afternoon in the Paradise Point Parklands swimming area,” she said in a statement.
“We are actively working with the authorities to determine the cause of the incident.
“The city will provide all possible assistance to emergency services to assist in this regard.”