Burleigh Heads locals slam man’s bizarre watercraft after wipeout at crowded point break

A man on a bizarre vessel who wiped out and ploughed through surfers at a crowded break copped heat from locals, but the city’s top lifeguard says he wasn’t doing anything illegal. WATCH

A man on a bizarre vessel who wiped out and ploughed through surfers at a crowded Gold Coast break has been slammed by locals, but the city’s top lifeguard says he wasn’t doing anything illegal.

On Wednesday, the man was filmed at Burleigh Point paddling into a sizeable wave on a Water Bike, a pedal-driven catamaran, when he wiped out and sent the craft flying toward a number of surfers and swimmers.

Surfers duck-dive to avoid the careening contraption at Burleigh on the Gold Coast. Picture: Cameron Burke.

The surfers attempted to duck-dive under the hurtling craft before it “smashed into pieces on the rocks”, according to Burleigh resident Cameron Burke, who filmed the video.

Gold Coast City Council Chief Lifeguard Chris Maynard says while the incident “sounded unfortunate”, he said the man wasn’t illegally using the watercraft.

‘There’s many different types of watercraft people use in the ocean but it was not a powered vessel. Anything with a motor has restrictions about where it can and cannot travel,” Mr Maynard said.

“However, anyone using the ocean environment on any type of watercraft needs to understand there is duty of care and to be aware of your surroundings.”

Mr Maynard said he encouraged ocean goers to “be sensible and use common sense”.

“If that particular craft was drifting up Tallebudgera Creek I don’t think anyone would be talking about it. But the fact it was taken out in a crowded line-up like Burleigh makes it quite high-risk,” he said.

Burleigh surfing identity and commentator Terry ‘Tappa’ Teece expressed concern over the watercraft, and said the man had been paddling into the line-up over the past two days.

Surfers duck-dive to avoid the careening contraption at Burleigh on the Gold Coast. Picture: Cameron Burke

“It definitely falls into the category of dangerous surf craft including jetskis and foils,” he said.

“I get it’s a bit of entertainment and some would find it funny but you don’t go and do something stupid like that at a crowded surf break. There was young grommets learning to surf.”

Burleigh surfing identity Terry ‘Tappa’ Teece slammed the act, calling it “dangerous and stupid”. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Mr Teece said he was worried someone could be “seriously injured or worse”.

Mr Burke, said he “couldn’t believe” what he had captured on video.

Surfers duck-dive to avoid the careening contraption at Burleigh on the Gold Coast. Picture: Cameron Burke

“The craft smashed into pieces everywhere. Not many people were happy with him when he made it back in to shore. It could have done some serious damage,” he said.

Water Bikes from brands such as Schiller retail for close to $9,000 in Australia, according to their website.