Great Barrier Reef: British tourist dies while scuba diving Published duration 18 November 2016

image copyright Getty Images image caption Two French tourists died while snorkelling on Wednesday

A British tourist has become the third person this week to die on Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

The 60-year-old man was scuba diving at Agincourt Reef in Far North Queensland when he was seen to be in trouble, tour operator Quicksilver said.

The tourist, a certified diver, was helped to the surface but could not be revived.

It comes after two French tourists died while on Wednesday.

They are both believed to have suffered cardiac arrests.

'No regulator'

Paramedics were alerted to the latest tragedy just after 12.30 local time (01:30 GMT) on Friday.

"CPR was performed on a male patient in his sixties by a nurse on board a vessel and subsequently by a doctor," a Queensland Ambulance spokeswoman said.

The Association of Marine Park Tourism Operators (AMPTO) said the alarm was raised when the diver was spotted without a regulator in his mouth 15m (49ft) below sea level on the ocean floor.

"We're not sure as to what has happened at this stage," a Quicksilver spokeswoman said.

The man was travelling with his wife. It was his second dive of the day from a boat called Silver Sonic.

AMPTO executive director Col McKenzie said the boat was carrying oxygen and defibrillation equipment and had operated for 11 years without serious incident.

"Accidents like this are a tragedy for the surviving family members, the crew and the passengers," he said.