Moodie progresses at Aussie surf ironmans

Competition halted after death

New Zealand ironman title-holder Daniel Moodie comfortably progressed through the heats of the Australian championships on the Gold Coast today, though his efforts were overshadowed by the tragic death of an under-19 competitor.

New South Wales ironman Saxon Bird died in Gold Coast Hospital, after he disappeared while competing in the under-19 ironman just 20 minutes after Moodie's heat.

Witnesses say the 19-year-old's ski hit him in the head when he was trying to negotiate the heavy 2m Kurrawa Beach shorebreak.

Fellow competitors rushed into the surf to find him when they realised he was missing and were joined by two helicopters, 10 IRBs and jetskis.

His body was eventually found nearly an hour later 1km south of the main arena.

Organisers immediately suspended the competition and are still to decide whether the scheduled final two days will continue this weekend, especially with Tropical Cyclone Ului predicted to hit the Queensland coast tomorrow.

Moodie said the conditions were some of the toughest he's seen.

"It's not the biggest but it's just really messy water and it's all over the show," Moodie said. "I just sat there and took my time, just watching and decided to go when I saw a lull, rather than sitting there getting hammered."

Midway's Mike Janes reached the final of the open surf race after finishing fifth in his semifinal and he also won his first-round ironman heat before the event was put on hold.

Mount Maunganui's Andrew Newton also won his second-round board race heat, progressing to the quarterfinals.

New Zealand's top hopes in the beach flags, Morgan Foster and Paul Cracroft-Wilson, were also affected by the postponement.

- NZPA