Gold Coast man dies after jet ski accident on South Stradbroke Island

Friends have been left ‘traumatised’ after desperately trying to save the life of an experienced jet ski rider who drowned on the Gold Coast this morning.

A jet ski trip with mates has turned to tragedy after a Gold Coast man lost his life at South Stradbroke Island this morning.

The Hope Island man, 54, had been out in the waves with a small group of friends, just before 8am.

The group of “experienced” riders were one nautical mile north of the seaway on the ocean side of the island when the man fell and swallowed a large amount of water.

Officer In Charge of the Gold Coast Water Police Jay Notaro said there was nothing the man’s friends could have done to save him.

“Some white water has hit him and he’s come off the jet ski and began struggling in the water,” he said.

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Emergency crews are at the scene of a major jetski accident at South Stradbroke Island, with a man treated for "critical" injuries. Picture: Jetskiers of Qld/ Alex Morschel.

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“This is just a tragic set of circumstances, I don’t think he was doing anything wrong at all and so far I can’t see anything that would have saved this man’s life.”

The man’s mates rushed to pull him to safety, but he was unconscious by the time he reached the shore, a police spokesman said.

Friends and bystanders spent half an hour attempting CPR but the man could not be saved.

Police are investigating the possibility he may have suffered a medical episode before falling.

Senior Sergeant Notaro said the man’s mates were “traumatised”.

A Volunteer Marine Rescue team ferried paramedics to the island and a rescue helicopter was also tasked to the scene as large swell made the area tricky to access.

Police will prepare a report for the Coroner after a 54-year-old Runaway Bay man died following a jet ski incident near South Stradbroke this morning. https://t.co/AfhvihTrNZ pic.twitter.com/M2MHh0gEab

— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) January 2, 2019

It follows a spate of drownings and near-misses in Queensland as locals and visitors take to pools and waterways for the summer holidays.

Police rescue are currently at the scene. Picture: Jetskiers of Qld/ Alex Morschel.

Four men have drowned in southeast Queensland since Christmas Day and another five people, including children, have been saved from close calls on the Gold Coast alone.