Brisbane spearfisher and martial arts instructor Louie McHugh, 23, died near Batt Reef off Port Douglas on Saturday after failing to resurface during a diving trip with friends.
McHugh had travelled to Port Douglas for a weekend away and was diving from a boat near Batt Reef, approximately 11 kilometres north-east of Port Douglas, when the incident occurred around 11.30am. After he did not resurface, friends searched the water before calling emergency services. Marine and aerial assets, including rescue helicopter 510, were deployed in a search and rescue operation that continued for nearly three hours. Authorities located McHugh unresponsive in the water just after 2.20pm.
Police have not confirmed the cause of death. A suspected shallow water blackout, a sudden and potentially fatal loss of consciousness during breath-hold diving caused by oxygen depletion, is being investigated as a possible factor.
A Proud Iona Old Boy
McHugh attended Iona College, the all-boys Catholic school in Wynnum West that draws students from across the bayside suburbs including Manly, Wynnum and surrounding areas. The Iona College Old Boys Association paid tribute to McHugh, joining its community in offering prayers and sympathy to his family. Friends who had trained alongside him, including fellow Iona old boys, shared their grief publicly in the days following the incident.
One parent of a former student recalled McHugh as a generous and humble young man who had formed a genuine friendship with her son, also an Iona old boy, while training him in Muay Thai at Progressive Martial Arts in Tingalpa. Under McHugh’s guidance, the young fighter won his most recent bout. The mother described McHugh as an exceptional trainer who left a lasting impression on all who trained with him.
Martial Arts Career Cut Short
McHugh had built a respected profile in Brisbane’s martial arts scene after more than 15 years of training at Progressive Martial Arts in Tingalpa. He trained under head coach Cookie Vassiliou and held rankings under Ajarn Chai and Professor Jean Jacques Machado, with connections to the lineage of Guro Dan Inosanto. He worked as an instructor at the school, mentoring younger students and competing as a ring fighter.
Vassiliou remembered McHugh as a go-getter and a talented instructor who gave himself fully to his students and the sport. She noted the community found some comfort in knowing he had died doing something he loved. Progressive Martial Arts has launched a fundraiser to assist his family with ongoing costs, available through the school’s social media pages.
McHugh is survived by his mother Sue, father Mark, and sisters Niamph, Freya and Immy.
Why This Matters to the Manly and Bayside Community
For families across Manly, Wynnum, and the broader bayside area, Louie McHugh was not a distant figure. He was the kind of young man many residents knew personally, through Iona College, through the martial arts community centred in nearby Tingalpa, or through the tight social networks that connect bayside suburbs. His loss resonates because he represented something many local families recognise: a young person who grew up in this community, stayed connected to it, and gave back through his work as a coach and mentor.
For those in the bayside community who fish, dive or spend time on the water, this story also carries an important safety message. Shallow water blackout can affect experienced divers without warning, and understanding its risks is something every water-loving household in the area can benefit from knowing. The Cairns Spearfishing Club‘s call for awareness and education is a message that applies just as much to Queensland’s south-east coast as it does to Far North Queensland.
Batt Reef and Spearfishing Risks
Batt Reef, where McHugh was diving, is among the largest sections of the Great Barrier Reef system, covering an area 18 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide. The reef is a popular destination for snorkelling and diving, with tourist vessels regularly departing from the Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina in Port Douglas. It is also the site where Australian conservationist and zookeeper Steve Irwin died in September 2006 after a stingray barb struck him during an underwater filming session.
The Cairns Spearfishing Club encouraged anyone affected to reach out to its committee for support or to learn more about safe diving practices.
Those wishing to contribute to the family fundraiser can find the details here.
Published 4-March-2026.
