Man taken to hospital after emergency services called to popular Cairns beach
Emergency crews have rescued a man spotted swimming hundreds of metres offshore from a popular Cairns beach.
A man who was spotted swimming hundreds of metres out to sea from a popular Cairns beach has been rescued and taken to hospital.
Multiple emergency crews including police and paramedics were called to Yorkeys Knob boat ramp about 10am on Sunday after onlookers spotted the man far off Machans Beach.
A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed the man was transported to Cairns Hospital at 2pm with no injuries.
It is understood the man was intercepted by a boat earlier Saturday morning but would not initially come aboard.
Queensland Police Service declined to comment further beyond saying the matter was mental health-related, while the Queensland Fire Department said the incident had been handed over to police earlier on Saturday.
The incident comes as experts warn Far North Queensland is facing an above-average stinger season, driven by warmer seas and early rain. Deadly box jellyfish and Irukandji are most common from November to May.
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Originally published as Man taken to hospital after emergency services called to popular Cairns beach
