British tourist dies snorkelling on Great Barrier Reef
A British tourist has died while snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef, marking the fifth fatality in just three months.
The 63-year old man is thought to have suffered a heart attack in the water.
ABC Australia reports 10 people died on the reef in 2016, who were mostly elderly or had preexisting medical conditions.
Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators spokesman Col McKenzie said that was about twice the industry average.
The latest death occurred at Moore Reef, a busy snorkelling spot located about 25 miles from Cairns.
Before this latest fatality, state legislators and representatives from the tourism industry had already arranged to meet later this month to discuss the spate of recent deaths.
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