Teenager dies in tragic Surfers Paradise balcony fall

A Sydney teenager has died after falling from a balcony in Surfers Paradise during week two of school leaver celebrations, after claims he was inhaling nitrous oxide.

A SCHOOLIE who plunged to his death at a Surfers Paradise hotel was alone as paramedics worked desperately to revive him early this morning, witnesses say.

A Queensland Police spokeswoman confirmed police attended a non-suspicious death in Surfers Paradise at Laycock St at 5am today.

It is understood Hamish Bidgood, an 18-year-old from Turramurra High School in Sydney, fell off the balcony at the Surf Regency Holiday Apartments.

A close family friend of the Bidgoods said that they are distraught after hearing about Hamish’s passing.

“I’m absolutely gutted,” they said.

“He was such a great kid.”

Canister found on the sand dunes on the Gold Coast. Picture: Nic McElroy

Police are awaiting toxicology tests to determine whether alcohol or drugs were involved after claims he was inhaling nitrous oxide.

Inhaling nitrous oxide, generally from a canister such as a whipped cream charger, gives a short euphoric high.

After less than five minutes in the sand dunes directly in front of Laycock St, the Bulletin counted 15 nitrous oxide canisters and balloons which are often used to inhale the gas.

A group of Schoolies said they were awake to see the aftermath of the fall at 5am today when they witnessed paramedics jump a fence to the pool area where the teen had fallen.

They reported that two police officers performed CPR on the teen, who had fallen on a grassed area, before paramedics arrived.

Hamish Bidgood died after falling from a balcony.

Hamish Bidgood was on the Gold Coast to celebrate Schoolies.

The said they believe he fell from a balcony on the building’s southern side.

They said they didn’t see any other teens in the area where the young man fell.

The group said the swimming area had been cordoned off.

A group of friends he was on holiday with are returning home after the tragedy.

It is believed the teenager was staying at Surf Regency Apartments with friends to celebrate finishing school.

Counselling is being offered to fellow teens following the death.

COAST MOTHER CONFRONTS MAN BELIEVED TO BE DEALING NANGS

Schoolies celebrations at Surfers Paradise on the Gold Coast. Schoolies party on the beach at the Red Frog stage. Picture Glenn Hampson

One Schoolie, who declined to be named, told the Bulletin that he and his friends were regularly offered MDMA, cigarettes and ‘nangs’ throughout their week-long stay.

He said it happened so often he considered it normal and worringingly, they tended to be other Schoolies offering the drugs.

“It happened a lot to my mates,” he said.

“It happened when we had small talk with other Schoolies. I’d ask where they were from and they’d ask if I had drugs, or ‘do you have any nangs’?

Canisters found on the sand dunes just metres away from a hotel where a schoolie plunged to his death from a balcony after allegedly inhaling nitrous oxide. Picture: Nic McElroy

“It’s sort of the normal thing for our generation, drugs are part of my generation. You just have to cope with it and say no.”

Last year, a Gold Coast man appeared on Vice after revealing he was selling thousands of whipped cream chargers.

A separate pair of Schoolies who were staying at the building said they had no idea that there had been a death at the complex.

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They said they had not been notified by hotel management of any incident.

A neighbour of the building said the place area was “swarming” with police at about 7am this morning.

He said the street had been cordoned off.

Schoolies staying at the hotel reported that they did not see any police when they returned to the hotel at 10am today.

Red Frogs co-ordinator Andy Gourley said the volunteer group was speaking with police, but declined to comment.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner.