Bernama identified the 16-year-old as Mohammad Farhan Fudhail Mohammad Farid from Kuantan, Pahang.

It quoted the boy’s mother Natasha as saying they were bringing home the body, adding that the foreign ministry had confirmed the Malaysian High Commission in Canberra was assisting.

According to news.com.au, Farhan Fudhail was found in a critical condition by paramedics at about 2.30pm at the Jezzine Barracks in North Ward.

Bystanders and emergency services tried to resuscitate the boy but he died at the scene not long after, the report said.

The news site quoted Queensland police as saying in a statement that initial investigations showed the boy was travelling down a hill and tried to slow down before crashing into the pole.

It said Townsville police district duty officer Jonathan Searle told the Courier Mail the boy was wearing a helmet and was skating with friends.

“A number of adults and the other children he was with came to his aid,” Searle said.