A woman's body has washed up on a beach near Coral Bay. Source: PerthNow
A WOMAN has died and a man is missing after what police believe to be a snorkelling excursion gone wrong in the idyllic West Australian resort of Coral Bay.
An emergency beacon was activated just after 4pm south of the coastal hamlet near Ningaloo Reef, which led to the 41-year-old woman's body that had washed up onto the beach.
The woman's 48-year-old partner is still missing in the water, with the Water Police Co-ordination Centre leading the marine search and rescue operation.
Two children aged 10 and 13, believed to be those of the man and woman, were on the beach at the time.
Police say if the man is not found tonight, the search will resume in the morning.
A team of police divers is preparing to leave Perth for Coral Bay early tomorrow morning if the man is not located tonight.
Earlier this afternoon, WA Police spokesman Sam Dinnison said an EPIRB was activated just south of Coral Bay Beach at about 4pm.
"At this stage we believe a body of a woman has washed up on the shore at that beach, it's been confirmed she is in fact deceased," he told ABC Radio.
"We've got police from Exmouth heading to the scene to undertake more enquires.
"We think the woman may have been snorkelling prior to this, but we're yet to confirm that 100 per cent.
"But we've also got reports that her husband may also be in the water, but we're not sure if he's injured or what the circumstances are there."
Mr Dinnison said an EPIRB was set off by a third party.
"We believe the EPIRB was set off by a third party who had access to it, which is great for us because not only can we become aware of an emergency situation, but it gives us the coordinates of where we need to go," he said.
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