“The drummer from award winning rock band The John Butler Trio has told how of his battle to save a drowning victim yesterday.

Michael Barker was riding his bike to a public pool at Townsville, where the band performed last night, when he rushed to help bystanders pulling a man from the Ross River.

Mr Barker and another man tried in vain to pull the victim, 22-year-old Shane Solomon, from the water and up a steep embankment before paramedics arrived.

However, Mr Solomon was declared dead at the scene.

A shocked Mr Barker said he was upset he was too late to help the man.

“I was just on my way to the pool to go for a swim,” said the drummer, who performed with The John Butler Trio at the Townsville Entertainment Centre last night.

“I just heard a bit of a ruckus and there was a lady calling for help so myself and another gentleman went down assist.

“We slid down the embankment, which was quite a steep climb.

“The other gentleman was administering some chest compressions, but he was oozing a lot of froth which wasn’t a good sign. He had a huge bump on his head.”

Mr Barker said he didn’t hseitate before helping.

“It was the right thing to do,” he said.

Townsville CIB officer-in-charge Detective Senior Sergeant Joe Kitching said the death appeared to be a tragic accident.

“There doesn’t appear to be any suspicious circumstances,” he said.”