Drowning in Surfers Paradise hotel pool on the Gold Coast linked to nangs

Police are warning against the use of nangs after a man drowned in a Gold Coast hotel pool after huffing the dangerous gas.

Police are warning against the use of nangs after a man drowned in a Gold Coast hotel pool after huffing the dangerous gas.

Emergency services were called to the Sovereign on the Gold Coast hotel on Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise about 6.20pm on Sunday after the 30-year-old man was found in the spa.

He died at the scene.

Gold Coast Police Acting Chief Superintendent Scott Knowles told ABC radio the man was from Brisbane.

“This is one of those incidents involving the use of nangs,” he said.

Nangs are the street term for canisters of nitrous oxide which are often used in whipped cream bottles.

Acting Chief Supt Knowles said police believed the man had been using the nangs in the spa.

Emergency services outside a hotel on Ferny Ave, Surfers Paradise. Picture: Facebook

Queensland Ambulance Service assistant commission Drew Hebbron said paramedics performed CPR at the scene but were unable to revive the man.

He warned people from using nangs, particularly near water.

“A message for anyone who is using illicit substances of anything like that or nitrous oxide canisters – stay away from water, stay away from the pool – it certainly can lead to a tragic outcome,” Mr Hebbron said.

“Nitrous oxide can cause oxygen starvation to the brain and can lead to an unconscious state which can be very dangerous around water pools and the ocean.

“We would just say that any illicit substance or any legal substance that is being used in the wrong way is dangerous and we would caution against it.”

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

Earlier this month, a 29-year-old Caribbean national died after he was pulled from a pool at the Maxmee Resort in Surfers Paradise.

Tourists at the resort said the man was “playing in the water and trying to hold his breath” when he suffered a shallow water blackout about 10.45am on February 6.