Australian life guard and swim coach Ray Nicol has died after an alleged hit-and-run in Hervey Bay, Queensland. Nicol, 57 spent the last 30 years as a coach and lifeguard.
Nicol was hit by a car near his home at 4:30AM on Friday. He was rushed to a hospital, but resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.
20-year-old Riley John Groves has been charged in his death. Police allege that Groves fled the scene and did not help the injured coach. He has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, failure to remain at the scene and render assistance, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and drugs and weapons offences.
Nicole was a legendary local lifeguard and coach who worked at the Hervey Bay and Maryborough aquatic centers.
- A GoFundMe account has been started to raise money for funeral costs and to support his wife Fiona.
An outpouring of positive messages came from the local aquatics community, including in the comments on this Facebook post from the Hervey Bay Triathlon Club.
One person, Tristan Anderson, said “The man who taught so many to swim with a dedication that was pure and unwavering, the steady guidance of a sure hand and the heart of a genuine top bloke. You’ll be missed Rayzor!”
Nicol was scheduled to compete in the Hervey Bay 100 Triathlon the weekend after he died.
This is awful. Condolences.
20-year-old Riley John Groves has been charged in his death. Police allege that Groves fled the scene and did not help the injured coach. He has been charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, failure to remain at the scene and render assistance, dangerous operation of a vehicle, and drugs and weapons offences.
What a s1ck person.
Give him the strongest punishment.
Innocent until proven guilty
Would you say the same thing if the victim were a member of your family?
That’s the law! So deal with it
I’m interested in what kind of sentence the guy gets.I live in a small town in Canada.We had a similar case here.The drunk driver had been drinking for 7-8 hours on his sons birthday.He decided to go to the casino to get even drunker.His fiancé begged him to take a taxi and even called one despite his complaints.He walked right past the taxi, jumped into his truck and sped down the road.Unable to make the left turn, he careened off the road and plowed into a bus stop sending 3 people to hospital and killing one.The dying 57 year old woman was caught underneath his tires.He bravely left her there to die and ran away, not even calling an ambulance.He… Read more »
WTF
Sadly sentencing in Australia will not be harsh enough to serve justice in a case like this and will more than likely mirror that of the case described in Canada.
It’s a sad world we live in when the opportunity of criminal rehabilitation is given in preference to the victim or family of victim to have true justice served.