Drama on Surf Coast as woman slashed by fin, paraglider rescued

A woman has been rushed to hospital after being slashed by her surfboard fin at a Torquay beach on Sunday.

A woman was taken to hospital after she was slashed by a surfboard fin on Sunday morning. Picture: Shaun Viljoen

A woman was slashed by a surfboard fin in Torquay on Sunday morning.

Witnesses said the woman suffered a serious gash to her upper leg and was taken to hospital after the incident at Torquay surf beach.

It’s understood the cut hit an artery, which can cause life-threatening bleeding.

But lifesavers responded quickly by delivering first aid and using a small beach buggy to take her to the Torquay Surf Life Saving Club, where an ambulance arrived to treat and transport her to hospital.

Witnesses said the woman, believed to be in her 20s, was clearly in terrible pain.

It’s understood she was riding a hired surfboard when she was dumped and cut by her own fin.

Crowds at Torquay beach on Sunday. Picture: Shaun Viljoen

The water was heavily crowded with swimmers and surfers cooling off in the water as the state swelters through a heatwave.

There was also a large Nippers event being held at the beach.

Temperatures are expected to reach 38C on Sunday with hot conditions to continue into the week.

Meanwhile, paraglider was taken to hospital after he crashed into rocks near Bells Beach on Saturday.

Emergency services rushed to the scene near Bells Beach Rd just after 4pm.

SES volunteers worked to rescue the man after they became stuck on the rocks.

Paramedics confirmed the paraglider, a man in his 50s, was treated for upper body injuries and taken to Geelong hospital in a stable condition.

As many as eight emergency services vehicles, including paramedics, are at the scene.

Surf Coast residents reported hearing multiple sirens in the area with CFA and SES units rushing along The Esplanade in Torquay to help the paraglider.

Originally published as Drama on Surf Coast as woman slashed by fin, paraglider rescued