Cowaramup man dies of suspected heart attack while surfing Margaret River’s Main Break

A man in his 50s has died of a suspected heart attack while surfing at Margaret River’s Main Break. Boyd Burkhardt, 55, from Cowaramup, was pulled from the water by a group of six fellow surfers about 12pm on Tuesday. He was carried to Surfers Point where the surfers attempted resuscitation for more than 30 minutes before ambulance crews arrived and took over. However, it is understood Mr Burkhardt could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene by 12.45pm. Onlookers praised the other surfers’ calm efforts to save the man, who was understood to have suffered a serious heart attack late last year. Surfers found Mr Burkhardt unresponsive in the water amid a line-up off the region’s signature surf break. The surfers took turns trying to resuscitate Mr Burkhardt while onlookers called an ambulance. Two ambulances and Margaret River police attended Surfers Point. The incident came at the end of a strong run of surf since Friday, with devotees flocking to Surfers Point, before conditions changed Wednesday. A Cowaramup resident, Mr Burkhardt was known as a popular local surfer who had a friendly demeanour and had lived in the region for a long time. It was also understood the man’s partner was at the Point when the incident unfolded.