Remember when: Surfers were warned in 1978 not to hit the waves at night on the Gold Coast

HOLIDAYMAKERS were warned they were gambling with death if they went surfing on the Gold Coast at night.

Flashback: Night surfing a killer

GOLD Coast Bulletin, Saturday January 7, 1978

HOLIDAYMAKERS were warned they were gambling with death if they went surfing on the Gold Coast at night.

The warning followed an increase in crowds flocking to the city’s surfing beaches on summer nights in the first days of 1978.

Southport pathologist Dr James Duhig, a former lifesaver, said the city’s famous golden sands held a black peril for unwary holiday-makers who ventured onto them at night.

“They could vanish without a trace,” he said.

“The infamous death alley at Surfers Paradise is one thing but even worse is the high danger of night swimmers vanishing in any of the two dozen rips that could run at the same time from Nobbys to The Spit.

Gold Coast Bulletin 1978, January 7. Front page.

“If that happens, they are on their own — they are as good as dead unless they are very experienced surfers and then they’ll need a lot of luck.

The state Member for Surfers Paradise and area councillor Bruce Bishop said: “They would stand a better chance of getting help if they jumped in front of a semi-trailer, at least then the driver could pick them up.”

Both men said the long stretch of surf from Nobbys to The Spit was a silent killer, with a list of victims — those who had ignored, or not been aware of the peril.

The combination of hot weather, the inviting atmosphere of the sea breeze at night, party mood and alcohol could bring about tragedy, they said.