Wiral chef died learning to surf in Australia

Oct 12 2007 by Liam Murphy, Liverpool Daily Post

A CHEF drowned while learning to surf on a family holiday to Australia, an inquest was told.

Peter Anthony Hoban, 47, from Leasowe, got into difficulties while using a friend’s bodyboard off the Gold Coast in eastern Australia.

Along with his wife Deborah and their three children they had gone for a family holiday and to attend a relative’s wedding.

The inquest at Wallasey was told the chef, who had worked for five years at the Railway Pub, in Meols, had spent the morning playing of April 5, 2007 with his children on the beach.

Later that day he had borrowed a bodyboard and paddled out into the surf.

But when Peter Hoban was about 200 metres out, his wife could see he was in difficulties and waving for help.

A friend who dived in to help him and a group of surfers brought him back ashore.

He appeared to respond to resuscitation but did not regain consciousness.

Verdict: Accident.