23 April 2025 , 13:35
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A British father and son who drowned after being swept off the coast of Australia near the Great Barrier Reef have been named.
Robin, 46, and Owen Reed, 17, were swimming at a beach not monitored by lifeguards when they got into trouble near the town of Seventeen Seventy, Queensland, on April 14.
Known to locals as a dangerous place to swim, stronger than usual winds that day made the rocky shore especially treacherous.
Both Robin and Owen, from Caerphilly, Wales, were dead when they were pulled from the water by a police helicopter.
More than £4,000 has been donated to a fundraiser launched by a family friend to support Robin’s wife and Owen’s mother.
It said: ‘She is going through the ordeal of being miles from home, whilst coming to terms with these twoawful losses.
‘Please help us to raise some finances to help with unexpected financial worry to take some of the stress from our lovely friend and her family.’
A third man, 37-year-old mechanic Mike Evans, who entered sustained serious injuries trying to save them. He was taken to hospital.
The headland sticks out into the Pacific Ocean (Picture: Aisling Le Gros/Metro)
Treowen Stars FC, a football club in Caerphilly, shared a tribute to them on Facebook.
In it, they said: ‘Awful, awful news about Robin Reed and his son Owen.
‘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.’
World Affairs Correspondent