Heartbreak and inquiries after death of 'great kid'

Marissa Calligeros Australian Surf Life Saving Championships will resume tomorrow after the death of a teenage surf lifesaver during the national competition at a notorious Gold Coast beach, which is likely to trigger...

'The bigger the surf the more he loved it’

Marissa Calligeros Matthew Barclay’s passion was surf lifesaving and “the bigger the surf the more he loved it’’, according to his parents, who say no one is to blame for their 14-year-old son’s death on Wednesday.

Junior sport: risk vs benefits

Freya Petersen While the recent death of 14-year-old Matthew Barclay at the Surf Lifesaving National Titles on the Gold Coast has thrown a spotlight on the dangers of junior sports, experts believe the benefits of...

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Community grieves lost boy

Amy Remeikis The short life of Matthew Barclay was brought full circle today as the 14-year-old was farewelled at the same church where he had been baptised as a baby.

Surf titles to move from deadly beach

A notorious Gold Coast beach that has claimed the lives of three teenage surf lifesavers is set to be dumped as the venue for the sport's national titles.

'It's too big for me': Life saver feared deadly surf

Amelia Bentley Life saving champion Saxon Bird told a fellow competitor he did not want to brave the rough surf shortly before he was killed by a rogue surf ski at the Australian Life Saving Championships last year.

Decision to cancel surf championships a minute too late: inquest

Amelia Bentley A decision to call off the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships held in rough sea conditions on the Gold Coast last year was to be made a minute after a young competitor was killed by a wayward...