Elderly woman hit by wave at Currumbin as cyclone Alfred stirs up Gold Coast surf
Storm ‘tourists’ ignoring warnings to stay off beaches and away from The Spit face $16,000 fines for reckless behaviour as Cyclone Alfred churns up biblical swell. READ THE LATEST
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Swimmers are risking their lives at Gold Coast beaches as record-breaking waves batter the beaches, with police saying those ignoring warnings face $16,000 on-the-spot fines.
The swell churned up by Tropical Cyclone Alfred was already inundating carparks, eroding beaches and wiping out anything and anyone who gets too close on Thursday morning.
A woman in her 70s was rushed to hospital after a wave knocked her over at Currumbin and she hit her head on rocks, a Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said.
The woman had lacerations to her head and leg injuries after the incident at Duringan St and Pacific Pde at Currumbin at 5pm on Tuesday.
She was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
Several men in their 20s and early 30s were swimming off Main Beach and Surfers Paradise just before 8am whilst throughout the day people continued to flock to the beaches and Spit to see the swell, infuriating acting Mayor Donna Gates and police boss Peter Miles.
The City and Queensland Police Service have responded by warning officers will hand out on-the-spot fines of up to $16,000 for reckless behaviour.
A resident who cautioned beachgoers said: “There are idiots swimming in the massive swells. You have rips right around them.They could have been pulled out to sea so easily.”
Other beachgoers were walking on dunes oblivious to sections of eroded beachfront collapsing into the surf.
“They are standing on the edge of the shore. The sand has given way to erosion.”
At Surfers Paradise, the surf has ripped off wooden posting on dunes. Police at The Spit are patrolling and going to the rescueof beachgoers.
A City spokesperson said two people who sustained injuries were taken to hospital for treatment.
Several people had been involved in rock falls or “swept out by the surf”.
As the wild weather ramped up about 11am, police began patrols along Surfers Paradise telling beachgoers to move on.
“We’re asking people to use common sense – these conditions are extremely dangerous, and no photo or video is worth risking your life,” Acting Gold Coast Chief Superintendent Peter Miles said.
“Large swells, strong currents and unstable footing near sea walls and rock faces can turn deadly in an instant.”
Officers had encountered “a number” of people” ignoring safety warnings.
Acting Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates said Cyclone Alfred had not lost intensity and people need to stay away from the beaches.
“Definitely don’t go in the water. Stay away from the beaches, stay away from the rock walls, and listen to us,” she said.
“This morning there was a 12.3 metre wave at Main Beach. It’s incredibly dangerous. The highest wave off the Tweed was 15metres yesterday.”
Premier David Crisafulli on Thursday morning confirmed a 12.3m wave had been recorded off Main Beach overnight.
A spokeswoman for Gold Coast City Council urged residents to consider how dangerous the conditions were, and would become.
High tide is expected at the Gold Coast just before 1pm on Wednesday, March 6.
A video posted to social media shows people on heavily eroded beaches disregarding advice to stay away from the unpredictable storm surges.
Later on Thursday afternoon, storm “tourists” were defying road closures and flocking en masse to the Gold Coast Spit rock wall to witness the ferocity of wild swells whipped up by Cyclone Alfred, despite winds gusting up to 80km/h.
Cars have been abandoned on the sides of Seaworld Drive at Main Beach as storm watchers bypass barricades blocking traffic from Muriel Henchman Drive to make the 2km trip to the northern most tip of The Spit on foot.
The floods of people - some clad in ponchos while others walk topless - include parents with very young children.
An endless procession of cars continued to make the trip down Seaworld Drive only to reach the barricades late on Thursday as Alfred loomed off the coast.
It comes as authorities pleaded with complacent Gold Coasters to heed stay at home warnings.
They say the delayed landfall of Alfred and subsequent relative calm conditions earlier on Thursday has lured many into a false sense of security.
Acting Gold Coast Mayor Gates said Cyclone Alfred had not lost intensity and pleaded for people to stay away from the beaches.
“Definitely don’t go in the water. Stay away from the beaches, stay away from the rock walls, and listen to us,” she said.
“This morning there was a 12.3 metre wave at Main Beach. It’s incredibly dangerous. The highest wave off the Tweed was 15 metres yesterday.”
The Spit rock wall is a renowned swell watching spot with waves crashing metres into the air during extreme weather.
Wind gusts of up to 80km/h have been recorded at the Gold Coast Seaway today.
Similar videos are appearing in all corners of the internet as people refuse to heed common sense and official advice.
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