Jurien Bay community in mourning after local resident drowns in Green Head boating accident

The 72-year-old who drowned off the coast of Green Head last week has been identified as long-term Jurien Bay resident Rockley Heales.

Mr Heales, along with a 71-year-old friend, took a small dinghy out off the coast of Dynamite Bay about 8.30am on Friday in what were described as “perfect boating conditions”.

But the pair soon ran into serious trouble when their boat capsized in open water 4km from shore.

The friend managed to swim back to shore, arriving about 10am and alerting authorities to the incident.

St John Ambulance took him to Jurien Bay Health Centre with non-life-threatening injuries.

Police and the Jurien Bay and Leeman volunteer sea search and rescue groups co-ordinated a search, with Mr Heales found dead about 12.50pm. Dandaragan Shire president Leslee Holmes said the local community was devastated by the news.

“It’s a dreadful thing to happen,” she said.

“These things really do reverberate through the community, it’s terrible.

“Our hearts go out to their families and friends.”

Police said investigations into the incident were ongoing.