Atherton man drowns in Bahrain swimming pool
AN Atherton man has died after drowning in a swimming pool while on holidays in the Middle East state of Bahrain.
Alex Liebrich, 22, is believed to have been attending a pool party in the capital Manama on Wednesday night when the incident happened.
Local authorities have confirmed the drowning occurred sometime between 7.30-8.30pm local time in the swimming pool of a building in the suburb of Um Al Hassam, which is on the southern coast of the city.
The former Atherton High School student was living in Melbourne, but had been on holidays in the Middle Eastern country for almost a month when the incident happened.
It is believed his older brother, Peter, also a former Atherton High School student, currently lives in Manama.
A Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson yesterday confirmed Mr Liebrich’s death. “We are providing consular assistance to his family,” the spokesperson said.
Mr Liebrich had moved to Melbourne to study civil engineering at the University of Melbourne after graduating as one of the Far North school’s top students in 2008.
He graduated from university at the end of last year, but continued to livein Melbourne.
Friends took to social media to express their grief as news of the tragedy reached Australia yesterday.
“Miss u so much bro!!” one friend said.
“Can’t believe I’m never gonna c u (sic) again.”
Local authorities continued to investigate the incident yesterday and a Bahrain media source said police had said his body would be repatriated.
The incident comes just months after another Far North man died overseas, with Kewarra Beach man Deen Popoola killed in Nigeria.
The 56-year-old accountant was shot dead in an apparent home invasion late last year while travelling to the troubled African nation to visit family.
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