Queen’s birthday long weekend sees problems in the water on Gold Coast

Gold Coasters made the most of the beautiful weather this morning as the long weekend kicked off, but it wasn’t all fun and games out on the water with paramedics called to two major incidents.

A NEAR-DROWNING marked the start of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend on the Gold Coast, as locals took to the waterways in droves.

Beaches and waterways were packed as locals made the most of the sunny weather this morning.

Families packed up the car for a day at the beach for the last weekend of the school holidays before school goes back on Tuesday.

From the pool … Picture: Nigel Hallett

… To the beach. Picture: Nigel Hallett

But not everyone was having a good time.

Paramedics were kept busy with two people hospitalised with serious injuries after two separate incidents within less than an hour on Saturday morning.

A man in his 70s was pulled from a pool on Main Beach Pde at Surfers Paradise about 11.40am.

Critical care paramedics and the high acuity response unit treated the man who was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition.

Gold Coast are out patrolling this weekend.

Critical care paramedics also treated a woman injured at Main Beach after her chest was crushed by a jetski.

Queensland Ambulance Service were called to the scene off Seaworld Dr at 10.44am following reports the jetski had landed on her upper body.

Both were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital.

A spokesman from Surf Life Saving Queensland said lifesavers were on high alert with large crowds expected over the long weekend.

He urged beachgoers to always swim between the red and yellow flags.

From the waterways to the highways traffic continues to be heavy on the city’s major roads.

Long weekend traffic was heavy on the Gold Coast's major roads. Picture: Google Maps

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At 2pm it was a slow run on the M1 with congestion southbound from Coomera to Yatala as Brisbane families make their way to the beach.

Northbound traffic was also heavy between Mudgeeraba and Palm Beach.