Deceased
Thomas Dominic RAE
Demographics
25y, male
Date of death
2019-07-07
Finding date
2020-05-14
Cause of death
immersion in water (drowning)
AI-generated summary
Thomas Dominic Rae, aged 25, disappeared while rock fishing at Shelley Beach, Western Australia on 7 July 2019 and is presumed drowned. He had a history of mental health issues (anxiety, depression, bipolar affective disorder) but was assessed as psychiatrically well in January 2019 and discharged from mental health services. At the time of death, his mood was described as 'really good' with no evidence of suicidal intent. He was not wearing a lifejacket, was a poor swimmer, and the conditions were hazardous: 2-3 metre swell, slippery algae-covered rocks, and water temperature of 16.5°C. Expert opinion indicated he likely died within minutes of entering the water from cold-water immersion effects and physical trauma from being swept against rocks. An extensive 10-day search recovered no remains. The case highlights the critical importance of appropriate safety precautions (lifejackets, harnesses) when rock fishing.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
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