QAS paramedics rush man in 50s to hospital after he was crushed between two boats at Wave Break Island

Paramedics have taken a badly injured man to hospital after he was crushed between two boats at Wave Break Island on Australia Day.

PARAMEDICS have taken a badly injured man to hospital after he was crushed between two boats at Wave Break Island on Australia Day.

Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) was called to the north of Wave Break Island in Gold Coast waters just after the incident at 6.45pm on Wednesday, according to a statement.

A file image of boats at Wave Break Island.

The man aged in his 50s was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital “in a serious condition with chest injuries”.

QAS High Acuity Response Unit paramedics were on board during the man’s transport to the hospital.

Queensland Police has been contacted to see if officers attended and more information is available.

The incident came after a young boy nearly drowned at Palm Beach about 3pm.

He was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

Boy pulled from water in Oz Day near-drowning

January 26: A young boy has been pulled from the water at a popular Gold Coast swimming spot following a near-drowning.

Paramedics were called to Tallebudgera Drive and Gold Coast Hwy at Palm Beach about 3pm on Wednesday after reports a child almost drowned.

Surf Life Saving Queensland one of its waverunners rescued a young patient from the water after he encountered trouble while swimming with family.

The boy, believed to be of primary school age, was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.

An SLSQ spokesman said the incident was one of 17 rescues to take place across the state this Australia Day.

“Last year on Australia Day 2021, 107 people were rescued from the water, including a mass rescue of seven people at Tallebudgera Beach,” they recently told the Bulletin.

Yabby hunter drowns chasing boat off Wave Break Island

January 21: Gold Coast police have confirmed they have found the body of a man who went missing while swimming after a boat off Wave Break Island early on Friday morning.

In a statement, police said two men were “yabbying on the western side of the island when their vessel came adrift and floated away”.

“The 52-year-old Gatton man swam out in the rough conditions in an attempt to retrieve the boat but failed to return to shore,” the statement read.

“Police were notified around 6.30am and launched a full-scale air, land and sea search.

“The man’s body was located by police divers around 9.20am (at Main Beach).”

Earlier, police officers were seen comforting distressed family members.

The family and members of the public were watching on as Queensland Police, Surf Life Saving Queensland (SLSQ) and the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter looked for the man.

The search was underway at Biggera Waters, opposite the corner of Marine Parade and Parr St, during an active Bureau of Meteorology marine wind warning, with gusts of up to 57kmh forecast.

Queensland Ambulance vehicles and police divers were seen arriving in the area shortly after 9am, but police would not confirm whether the man had drowned.

Initially, a police spokesman said: “There was two people out there on the island at Wave Break. One swam out to get the boat and hasn’t been seen since.”

Lifesavers had at least four jetskis on the water and the rescue helicopter was also assisting in the search, an SLSQ spokeswoman said.

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Originally published as QAS paramedics rush man in 50s to hospital after he was crushed between two boats at Wave Break Island