Update on man flown to hospital in ‘life-threatening’ condition

A Far North health service has provided an update on the condition of a man who was fighting for life on Friday after being pulled unconscious from the water of a well-known swimming hole.

Emergency services at the Babinda Boulders. File picture: Brendan Radke

A Far North health service has provided an update on the condition of a man who was fighting for life on Friday after being pulled unconscious from the water of a notorious Babinda swimming hole.

On Friday the Cairns rescue helicopter was called to the Babinda Boulders as emergency services assessed a patient who was reportedly retrieved from the water in an unconscious state.

At 2.10pm Queensland Police and paramedics were called to the jungle pool south of Cairns after a man in his 30s had been pulled from the water and was reportedly unresponsive.

The main pool at the Babinda Boulders is considered safe for swimming. Picture: Peter Carruthers

A Queensland Ambulance spokesman said crews were on scene assessing the man who was in a life-threatening condition and the rescue helicopter had also been tasked to assist.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman said the man was at the main pool and had reportedly slipped and fell into the water.

Swimming is permitted within the calm waters of the main swimming area and further up stream of Babinda Creek, however downstream areas such as the Devils Pool are no go zones due to the deadly movement of fast-flowing water through narrow rock formations.

The Boulders is a major Far North nature attraction however between 1959 and July 2023, 21 people have drowned at or near the pools.

#FinalUpdate - One patient was airlifted to Cairns Hospital following an earlier post immersion incident in #Babinda

— Queensland Ambulance (@QldAmbulance) January 10, 2025

The police spokeswoman said off-duty police and nurses helped retrieve the man from the water and began performing CPR before he was initially taken to Babinda Hospital in a threatening condition.

Cairns Hospital staff on Saturday morning confirmed the 32-year-old patient had been transferred to the Cairns health facility.

He is now recovering from his ordeal and considered to be in a stable condition.

Originally published as Update on man flown to hospital in ‘life-threatening’ condition