Woman, 20s, dead following late night near drowning at QT resort Surfers Paradise

A young woman left in a critical condition after a late-night swim at the QT Hotel Gold Coast has sadly passed away.

QT Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied.

A Korean woman has lost her week-long fight for life, dying after an incident in the pool at an up-market Surfers Paradise hotel.

Emergency services were called to the QT Gold Coast on Staghorn Ave about 9pm on Sunday May 22 to reports of a near drowning. The patient was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

A Queensland Police spokesman said the woman remained in a critical condition at the hospital for about a week before passing away just before 5pm on Saturday, May 25.

The woman had been swimming alone in the resort’s pool when the incident occurred.

Speaking to media on Monday, Acting Superintendent Scott Knowles said police were called to the Gold Coast University Hospital on Saturday where the woman had passed away.

“This is a timely reminder to visitors here on the Gold Coast don’t swim alone — this was at 9pm at night that she was recovered,” he said.

“We have a lot of visitors from countries where swimming is not something that’s taught routinely to the children or their populations.

“Please make sure you swim within your capabilities, don’t swim alone and let people know what you’re doing.”

Acting Supt Knowles said the cause of death was pneumonia as a result of the drowning and he was not aware of drugs or alcohol involved in the incident.

“That will be part of the investigations we’ll conduct for the coroner,” he said.

“We’ll look at what other causations or what other mechanisms there might be that we can start to use to try and reduce these deaths.

“It may well be we look towards education campaigns for visitors to the Gold Coast on just being safe.”

EARLIER: Woman fighting for life after near-drowning at Surfers Paradise

The operator of an up-market Surfers Paradise hotel says its thoughts are with the family and friends of a women hospitalised after an incident in its pool.

Emergency services were called to the QT Gold Coast on Staghorn Ave about 9pm on Sunday to reports of a near drowning, a Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokeswoman said.

A female in her 20s was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition, where it’s understood she remained on Wednesday.

The pool at QT Gold Coast resort Staghorn Ave, Surfers Paradise. Picture: QT Gold Coast

In a statement to the Gold Coast Bulletin, a spokeswoman for the QT Gold Coast said: “We can confirm that on Sunday evening, there was an incident involving a guest in the swimming pool.

“Our thoughts are with the individual and their family during this time.”

At least four QAS crews, including specialist critical care paramedics attended the incident at the weekend and treated the woman prior to being transported.

A Queensland Police Service spokesman said officers were aware of the incident but weren’t required to attend.

They are not investigating the matter any further.

Originally published as Woman, 20s, dead following late night near drowning at QT resort Surfers Paradise