Police divers find body of John Ryan in Cooby Dam near Toowoomba - ABC Local

By Sam Burgess

Posted July 11, 2014 08:47:06

Police will prepare a prepare a report for the coroner after discovering the body of an elderly man in a dam near Toowoomba in southern Queensland.

John Ryan, 73, died while trying to retrieve a boat at Cooby Dam, north of Toowoomba, on Wednesday afternoon.

Police divers found his body yesterday.

Police say his five-year-old grandson raised the alarm, after Mr Ryan waded into the water about 3:00pm (AEST) to free a boat that was stuck.

Acting Senior Sergeant Jeremy Sheldrick says it is unclear what happened.

"The very nature of the dam in that location is very muddy and reeds etc, so that part of it is unknown unfortunately but it's a very difficult place for a fit and healthy person to traverse through in any case," he said.

Topics: missing-person, law-crime-and-justice, toowoomba-4350