Coral Bay tragedy: woman dead, man missing

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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Chess champs in Easter road tragedy

THE close-knit chess community is mourning the deaths of two Melbourne players killed in a road accident on their way back from a tournament in Canberra.

The group of six Melbourne men, aged from 18 to 30s, were travelling home in a Toyota Tarago along the Hume Freeway near Winton, 220km north of Melbourne, after competing in the Doeberl Cup - Australia's biggest chess tournament - over the Easter long weekend.

Detectives from the Major Collision Investigation Unit were told the driver lost control of the van about 11pm, causing it to roll several times before coming to a stop.

Two passengers died at the scene.

The third passenger is in a critical but stable condition at the Alfred Hospital. The fourth is in a serious condition at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

The driver of the vehicle and fifth passenger suffered minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

Police at the scene of the double fatality involving chess players driving from Canberra to Melbourne. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Assistant Commissioner Robert Hill told 3AW radio that the driver hadn't been speeding, and was not affected by alcohol or drugs.

He said a mechanical fault may have caused the crash.

The group, members of the Melbourne Chess Club, were competing in the annual tournament held from Thursday to Monday at the Hellenic Club in Woden, Canberra.

The event hosted 240 players, with each game running from four to six hours.

Melbourne Chess Club member Jamie Kenmure, 25, said the news was tragic for the close-knit chess community.

A fatal accident in northern Victoria has seen the national Easter road toll rise to Twenty, nine more than last year.

"It's one of those things, you don't wish it upon anyone," Mr Kenmure said.

Mr Kenmure knows five of the six men, and said his thoughts were with their families.

He said the family of one of the men in hospital was "distraught".

One of the men who lost his life "always had a smile on his face".

"Never would you see him even in his bad moments without a smile on his face,'' Mr Kenmure said.

Police inspect the van near Winton. Picture: Channel 7

"I could never say a bad word about him.

"One important message is that the chess community thinks of them and will always be with them.

"We are one family. This is what we are. The chess community is a tight-knit community. No matter what's happened, us chess players will always help and always be there for each other."

Doebrel Cup event organiser Charles Bishop was shocked to learn about the horror smash and said the group of men were well-known, high achievers who were “very involved” in Australia’s competitive chess circles.

“They’re young men and they’re very nice guys,” he said.

The scene off the Hume Freeway. Picture: Channel 7

“The chess community’s very close.

"It’s a small niche.

"There’s hundreds of thousands of kids, but at the level we we were playing at over the weekend ... there were 11 grand masters here in Australia from countries all over the world.

“It’s just one of those communities that when you’re around it, it’s like any social group ... particularly when you’re playing at this level.

“They were well-liked young men and they were lovely young men. It will (shake the chess community).”

MCIU Sergeant Rohan Courtis said the smash, 10km from Benalla, was a tragedy.

“It’s quite a sad, sad time for the families involved in this," he said.

It’s around Easter, it’s supposed to be a happy time spending time with family and friends and it's ended in this tragedy.”

The Hume Freeway has reopened Melbourne-bound between Glenrowan and Winton.

“We know that there was a reasonable amount of traffic on the road at the time," Sgt Courtis said.

"We had two witnesses stop who were travelling in a truck.

"If there are other witnesses who observed the incident we press upon them to contact police or crime stoppers so we can piece together this horrific event."

The double fatality brings Victoria's Easter road toll to five.

Sixty-six people have died on the state's roads this year, 11 fewer people than the same time last year.

Information about the accident to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or www.crimestoppers.com.au

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