Man released from hospital after suffering spear injury
A man reportedly fell in a vessel and sustained a spear injury at a remote island 70 nautical miles away at the weekend. UPDATES.
Rockhampton
Don't miss out on the headlines from Rockhampton. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A male teenager has been released from hospital after he injured his hand with a spear gun while on a boat near a remote Central Queensland island at the weekend.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said it received the call at 8.13am on Saturday, December 2.
It was reported the male, who is in his late teens, “fell forward in a boat and put his hand down and landed on a spear gun”.
The spear gun was believed to have gone through his hand and thumb.
The RACQ CapRescue was tasked to meet the boat at North West Island and left the Rockhampton Base at 8.30am.
The trip was 70 nautical miles due east of Rockhampton.
The helicopter continued running on the beach due to soft sand and the patient was hot loaded (meaning the engine was still running) into the aircraft.
He was flown to Rockhampton Hospital in a stable condition.
A Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman said on Monday the patient had been discharged.
North West Island is in the Capricorn Group, near Heron Island.
It is the largest coral cay in the area and forms part of the Capricorn Cays National Park.
It takes six hours to get to the island on a barge from Gladstone with Curtis Ferry Services.
The island is fully off-grid with no power and only three toilet blocks.
The area is popular for snorkelling, diving and fishing.
Spearfishers have caught black spot tusk fish, Spanish mackerel, trout, red throat and spangled emperor from the island.
In January, a tourist couple were stranded for three days after they got caught in a rip off North West Island.
The Brisbane pair, in their 40s, were believed to have been paddleboarding when they were dragged out to sea.
They were discovered late by a fisherman who heard their cries for help just after 10pm.
They had treaded water for three days, travelling an estimated 50 nautical miles, wearing only a wetsuit and a bikini top and shorts.
The fisherman gave them food and drink and they stayed overnight on the boat before they were taken to the marina to meet paramedics the following morning.
They stayed in hospital for a few days for shock and exhaustion.
Queensland Parks and Wildlife ranger Zach Robba, 23, tragically died in April 2020 after he was attacked by a shark off North West Island.
He was flown to Gladstone Hospital with life-threatening injuries but died five hours later.
It was the third shark attack in the area in four months.
Join the conversation
Two people accused of trying to drag man from ute at traffic lights
Two people allegedly approached a red Holden Colorado stopped at red light in Norman Gardens and attempted to pull a driver from the vehicle, prompting an appeal from police
Read more
MAPPED: Every SEQ croc sighting as fisherman shares shock encounter
A fisherman who says he’s seen the “humanised” campground croc rangers are searching for has spoken out as an expert explains why the “vagrant” reptile’s future is likely bleak and the history of recent southern sightings is revealed.
Read more