GOLD COAST SURF LIFE SAVERS MOURN TEEN WHO DROWNED IN TRAINING EXERCISE

Gold Coast surf life savers are mourning the loss of a teenager who drowned during a training exercise on the Gold Coast yesterday afternoon.

17-year-old Jerry Dennis fell off his board into a canal at Mermaid Waters.

Emergency crews searched for around 45 minutes before they found his body and attempted CPR, but he was pronounced dead shortly after.

Officials can’t confirm reports that the teenager had chest pains before he died.

Surf Life Saving Queensland says the sport has lost a talented athlete and would be investigating the circumstances around his death.