A WA household is tonight coming to phrases with the shock lack of an skilled windsurfer off Rockingham on Thursday afternoon.
Jan Wiersma, a 55-year-old father, was discovered unresponsive by a pal, who did every part he may to try to save him.
"We noticed him going forwards and backwards having enjoyable and it was simply moments earlier than catastrophe actually," witness Sam Logan instructed 9News.
"We noticed a bloke simply laying on the seaside
... we noticed a helicopter coming with numerous cops operating down the seaside and paramedics," he stated.
Wiersma was discovered by his mate unresponsive and face down together with his board floating greater than 50 metres away.
His emergency beacon – activated by one other windsurfer – triggering the large marine mission in tough circumstances.
Witness Callum Cooke instructed 9News the circumstances had been "horrible".
"Very windy. I believe it was like 22 knot winds. Excessive swell," Cooke stated.
"We sensed one thing was improper and clearly we had been a bit anxious... and the paramedics appeared like they had been engaged on him for a bit."
However the Secret Harbour father-of-two, with greater than 4 many years of expertise crusing and windsurfing across the globe, could not be revived.
The 55-year-old was nearly an hour late from returning house, which prompted his son to drive there, one in all his favorite windsurfing spots.
The son was met with police and ambulance, an officer confirming his father's shock dying.
"He was extraordinarily skilled.... and health aware," his son instructed 9News in an announcement.
"He was all the time so mild and sort... He had a very optimistic outlook.
"Life is merciless. He was taken away too quickly."
The household has been left shattered, as a widow braces for a twenty ninth marriage ceremony anniversary with out her husband.