A much-loved swimming coach, who died in a diving incident off the coast of central Queensland this weekend, spent three decades defying his doctors who told him he would spend his life in a wheelchair, friends say.
Terry Fellows, 53, was scuba diving with three friends in 50-metre-deep waters north of Yeppoon on Sunday morning when his friends found him face down in the water and were unable to revive him with the assistance of emergency services.
Police are preparing a report for the coroner, but they described the trip as "well-planned and well-equipped".
"The four of them were very experienced," said Senior Constable Grant Kerlin from the Yeppoon Water Police.
"The deceased male was probably the most experienced diver in the group."
The cause of Mr Fellows's death is unknown.
"His dive gear has been seized by police and will be transported to the Queensland Police dive unit in Brisbane where they will do examinations on … the equipment," Senior Constable Kerlin said.
Always somewhere, diving
Mr Fellows worked as a caretaker but his passions were diving and swimming.
He led local teams and individuals to the Special Olympics.
His friend and colleague at the Gladstone Gladiators Swimming Club, Tom Fronek, said he was devastated by Mr Fellows's death.
"He loved his diving — he was always somewhere diving," Mr Fronek said.
"He travelled around the world and travelled around Australia to dive the wrecks.
"I was always saying, 'Buddy, why are you a swimming coach if you love diving?' — he was always somewhere on a boat."
Mr Fronek said his friend pushed through a medical condition that caused him severe back pain and that could have confined him to a wheelchair from the age of 25.
"He always told me he's trying to beat the odds of what doctors told him … he's always proven them wrong."
Mr Fronek said the swim coach chose to be in the water because it helped him through his pain.
"He was selected as coach in international competitions and national competitions," he said.
"He was doing it with a lot of love — I think he loved the idea of his volunteering.
"He was tough, very tough."
'He will be missed by many'
Tributes from the swimming community have flowed on social media for Mr Fellows:
"The loss is huge and our hearts are broken, our thoughts are with his family." — Special Olympics Gladstone
"This is devastating. I'm so sorry. What an impact Terry had on the community, he will be very missed by so many." — Karla Maree Filip
"What a guy! We have so many fond memories of Terry at swim carnivals. So sad, sure will be missed! Condolences to all." — Nicole Bartley
