Gold Coast beaches: Declan Sheeran injured in rough surf at Snapper Rocks

A GOLD Coast surfer has come off second best in rough swell at Snapper Rocks this afternoon. Declan Sheeran has suffered a suspected broken rib after dropping 15ft down a wave.

Powerful surf began hitting southern beaches this afternoon and locals hit the points before the pro surfers arrive. However there were a few casualties at Snappers Rocks. Local Declan Sheeran broke a rib avoiding a surfer in the impact zone. Picture: Glenn Hampson

A GOLD Coast surfer has come off second best in rough swell at Snapper Rocks this afternoon.

Coolangatta local Declan Sheeran has suffered a suspected broken rib after dropping about 15ft on a wave as he altered course to avoid another surfer.

Mr Sheeran, who is waiting to be assessed at Tweed Heads Hospital, heard “ a pop” when he hit the water and without panicking paddled straight to shore.

Local Declan Sheeran broke a rib avoiding a surfer in the impact zone. Picture: Glenn Hampson

He clutched his chest as he made his way up the beach praying a bone splinter didn’t pierce his heart or lung as he made his way to hospital.

An initial “adrenaline rush” gave Mr Sheeran false hope that he may have escaped the incident unscathed but when it wore off, while he was driving, he was in excruciating pain.

The Irishman has been surfing for 14 months and is “disappointed” he may need some time out of the water to recover after the accident.

Declan Sheeran broke a rib avoiding a surfer in the impact zone. Picture: Glenn Hampson

He said “luck” was definitely not on his side today.

“I was going really, really fast and my bum hit the face of the wave, the trajectory was going down but the momentum was (going) up — I guess I felt the impact,” Mr Sheeran said.

“The vibration just rattled through me and my rib took the weight in the wrong position. And I just heard pop straight away. It was a slip second impact.”

(I thought) I hope it doesn’t puncture my lung, I need to get in quickly.”

The 35-year-old said: “I was probably a winner on the Irish surfing score charts.

“You get full marks for whoever falls off first and second marks for whoever makes the biggest splash.

“So, I think today I came first and second.”

Mr Sheeran said he didn’t know if you got marks for being hospitalised but he assumed he would take out the top spot again.

The incident happened just after 1.30pm.