Lifesaver deaths could be avoided: report JUST hours before a 14-year-old competitor drowned at last year's Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, officials tried to call off his event, an event announcer says. Greg Holland overheard two-way radio chat between officials on the Gold Coast's Kurrawa Beach in the hours leading up to the under 15 rescue board race on March 28, 2012. Mr Holland told the ABC's Four Corners program they were asking for the order of events to be delayed or moved because of dangerous surf. "I heard that at least, at least twice, that request go through," he said. One of the officials ... who has the authority to make the adjustments, advised no, (he) asked them to keep going as per the normal program. A few hours later Matthew Barclay disappeared, and at sunset Mr Holland had an eerie conversation with a race official. "The deputy referee has said to me: you know, we were about - it's a great shame, because we were about to call this off anyway," Mr Holland told the program. Matthew's body was found the next morning. His death was the third during the championships in 16 years. Ironman Saxon Bird, 19, drowned in 2010 after being hit by a stray surf ski, and in 1996 a member of Kurrawa's under-18 boat crew, Robert Gatenby, 15, also drowned. Inquiries into Saxon and Robert's deaths recommended that Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) look into safety equipment like floatation vests and helmets. The SLSA is testing vests, but claims they ride up, restricting swimming and breathing. Former iron man champions Grant Wilkinson and Dane Farrell, and professional life guard Stuart Keay said the SLSA is getting the vest sizes wrong for testers. "At least put them in a vest that is fitted correctly and has the correct amount of buoyancy for their body weight," Mr Wilkinson said. Meanwhile, Saxon's dad Phil Bird is still waiting for the SLSA to introduce safety equipment, even though West Australian clubs have already rolled it out. You've had virtually 12 months since Matthew's death, you've had three years since Saxon's death, you've had 16 years since Robert's death and still there's nothing in place. You've got to ask the question, you know, how long does it take to put something in place?