Tributes have been paid to Cameron Shaw, a 25-year-old former UK boxing champion who has tragically died while snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia
A 25-year-old former boxing champion from the UK has tragically died while snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
Cameron Shaw passed away on Monday while snorkelling during a holiday in Cairns, Queensland with his girlfriend and two pals, report the Daily Mirror.
Family and friends have been left devastated by the news. Shaw, from York, was described by his heartbroken father Rod as a "gregarious, helpful and convivial guy - who threw his all into everything he did."
He added that the family "didn't realise just how popular he was until now." Rod continued: "We don't know exactly what has happened, but we know that Cam has drowned and the investigation is still ongoing He was a strong swimmer - I taught him to swim at Water World in York when he was aged two and a half and he reached up to nine out of a possible eleven levels."
Shaw, 25, won the Amateur Boxing Association's Elite 60kg title in 2018. He was also a gold medallist at the Hivdovre Box Cup in Denmark the year before. His career as a professional boxer was put on hold due to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.
Shaw trained at the York Boxing Club. Billy Wilson, head coach at the club, paid tribute to the fighter. He said: "I knew Cam very well and it's a huge shock. Nobody expects anybody to die at the age of 25.
"He was a vibrant kid, full of beans, always joking and laughing, he was a good lad, a hard worker and lived his life to the fullest."
Queensland Police said: "Investigations are underway into the circumstances surrounding his death, however, it is believed non-suspicious.
"Queensland Police will prepare a report for the coroner after the body of a man was located at a reef off Cairns at about midday on Monday."
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office said: "We are providing consular support to the family of a British man who has died in Australia."
