Read the haunting final post of a champion bodyboarder who mysteriously drowned while competing at a popular Sydney beach – as his horror final moments are revealed
- Two time NSW champion died at Sydney beach
- Mauricio Abrunhosa pulled unconscious from water
A champion bodyboarder has died while taking part in a competition at Curl Curl on Sydney’s northern beaches.
Mauricio Abrunhosa, 48, was pulled unconscious from the water about 11am on Sunday morning and despite desperate efforts to revive him, he could not be saved.
One week earlier announced to friends and family on Instagram that he was named over 35s champion and a runner up in the over 45s division in the NSW bodyboard state titles.
‘It feels good. This sport still gives me a natural high that I love,’ he wrote in his haunting final social media post. ‘This sport continues to give me joy.’
A week after that triumph, a fellow competitor saw that Mr Abrunhosa, who was known as Moz to his friends, was in trouble in the water.
Mr Abrunhosa (pictured), 48, was taking part in a competition at Curl Curl on Sydney’s northern beaches when tragedy struck
He was unconscious as he was taken from the surf to the beach, where an off duty nurse treated him before paramedics arrived.
After being given CPR, Mr Abrunhosa was rushed to Royal North Shore Hospital in a critical condition, where he later died.
‘We’re unsure if (Mr Abrunhosa) fell off his board (and) hit his head, or if it was a medical episode,’ Tracey Hare-Boyd of Surf Lifesaving NSW told 9News.
The northern beaches local, who was a member of the Sydney Bodyboarder’s Club, was said by friends to be ‘highly experienced, with a great appreciation for nature’.
Members of the club have been deeply shocked by the tragedy and are trying to come to terms with what happened.
Two-time NSW bodyboarding champion Mauricio Abrunhosa (pictured) has died after being pulled unconscious from the water
He was unconscious as he was taken from the surf to the beach, where an off duty nurse treated him before paramedics arrived (pictured)
Mauricio Abrunhosa (pictured) said bodyboarding ‘gives me a natural high that I love’
The northern beaches local (pictured), who was a member of the Sydney Bodyboarder’s Club, was said by friends to be ‘highly experienced, with a great appreciation for nature’
‘I think the whole community feels a very deep (loss), and sad, because it could be any of us,’ a local woman said.
An abandoned bodyboard and towel were seen left on the sand after Mr Abrunhosa was lifted into an ambulance and taken to hospital.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
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