Tragedy as body of triathlete who was lost at sea in jet ski accident is found - as haunting Facebook posts reveal he was trying to sell it just days earlier

  • Body of a triathlete who was lost at sea after a jet ski accident has been found 
  • Luke Howard vanished as he and a friend made a desperate dash for the shore 
  • Their vessel took on water and Mr Howard tried to find the leak but disappeared
  • A haunting Facebook post revealed he was trying to sell jet ski weeks earlier

The body of a triathlete who was lost at sea after a jet ski accident has been found.

Luke Howard, 35, vanished as he and a friend made a desperate dash for the shore after their vessel took on water, near Mudjimba Island on the Sunshine Coast, on Monday afternoon. 

Mr Howard, who tried to find out why the jet ski was taking on water and couldn't get back on to the vessel, was holding the back of it when he disappeared.

Luke Howard, 35, vanished as he and a friend made a desperate dash for the shore after their vessel took on water, near Mudjimba Island on the Sunshine Coast, on Monday afternoon

Luke Howard, 35, vanished as he and a friend made a desperate dash for the shore after their vessel took on water, near Mudjimba Island on the Sunshine Coast, on Monday afternoon

Sunshine Coast Water Police continued their search early on Wednesday morning, with the assistance of police divers in waters between Maroochydore River and Point Arkwright.

Mr Howard's body was found at about 10am and police will prepare a report for the coroner.   

A haunting Facebook post reveals Mr Howard was trying to sell his three person 2008 Yamaha jet ski on April 23, weeks before his fatal accident.  

'Selling because don't have have enough time to use it,' Mr Howard wrote. 

'I am the second owner. The first owner lived at kilcoy and just used it on Somerset dam (fresh water).'

'I have been using it in the ocean but it has been washed and flushed straight away after every use.'

A haunting Facebook post reveals Mr Howard was trying to sell his three person 2008 Yamaha jet ski on April 23, weeks before his fatal accident

A haunting Facebook post reveals Mr Howard was trying to sell his three person 2008 Yamaha jet ski on April 23, weeks before his fatal accident

One of Mr Howard's friends commented on the post on Tuesday, writing 'wish some did buy it' with a crying face emoji. 

During the search on Tuesday, Senior Constable Mark Vickers said Mr Howard stripped off his life jacket to search for the leak.

'The missing person got off the jetski to check the bungs and find out why it was taking on water,' he said.

'He was unable to get back on the jet ski.'

As the jet ski became unstable, the two men made for shore and Mr Howard complained of being tired.

'When the jet ski has arrived on the beach, the missing person was no longer with the jet ski,' Const Vickers said.     

Mr Howard's body was found at about 10am and police will prepare a report for the coroner

Mr Howard's body was found at about 10am and police will prepare a report for the coroner

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Tragedy as body of triathlete who was lost at sea in jet ski accident is found

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