New Year’s Eve 2018: Man dies at Gold Coast beach while swimming

A man has drowned at North Stradbroke Island after another man died at a popular Gold Coast beach on New Year’s Eve.

A MAN has died after being pulled from the surf at a popular but unpatrolled swimming spot on Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island - the second drowning in Queensland in the New Year period.

Paramedics were called to Frenchmans Beach at Point Lookout just before 12.30pm Tuesday, where a man in his 40s was in a critical condition.

Despite paramedics working on him for more than an hour, he could not be saved.

A Surf Life Saving Queensland spokeswoman said the man was “unresponsive” when pulled from the water and treated on-site by volunteer surf lifesavers before paramedics arrived.

Lifesavers called the drowning a “tragedy”.

Gold Coast Duty Officer Scott Burgess said passing lifesavers tried unsuccessfully to save the man, who was found lying face down in the water.

“A member of the public flagged down one of our lifeguards who was driving past Frenchman’s Beach, which is a known coastal blackspot,” he said.

“A patient was unconscious in the water face down, and we’ve then launched all our services to go in and do what we do best.

“Unfortunately we were unable to unable to resuscitate the patient and the patient was deceased on site.”

It’s a sad start to 2019 for lifesavers, with Mr Burgess offering a warning to other swimmers.

“Obviously the message is what we always say, swim between the flags,” he said.

“If we can’t see you, we can’t keep an eye on you and we can’t save you.

“It’s a coastal blackspot, it’s a dangerous blackspot, people have been in trouble there before.

“Our thoughts and wishes are with the family.”

Police are investigating and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

The North Stradbroke Island death follows another drowning at a popular Gold Coast beach about 6pm on New Year’s Eve.

The man was swimming in the Broadwater off Muriel Henchman Drive when he is believed to have experienced a seizure.

Paramedics were called to the scene just after 6pm last night as the man, aged in his 60s, was pulled from the water unconscious.

Paramedics tried to give him CPR with the assistance of volunteer marine rescue to revive him but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Meanwhile on the Sunshine Coast, emergency services were called to reports of three near-drownings earlier today in Maroochydore.

About 2.30pm three people were pulled from the water by lifesavers at the beach off Alexandra Parade and assessed by paramedics.

One male in his 30s was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a stable condition, with reports of fatigue and vomiting.

The other two people were in a stable condition and did not need transportation to hospital.

Meanwhile in Sydney, a 34-year-old man has drowned at Sydney’s Clovelly Beach. Emergency services were called about 2pm (local time) today, with the patient pulled from the water unconscious and not breathing from the north side of the rocks, a NSW Ambulance spokesman said.

Bystanders thought the man was snorkelling face down and it was only after he began hitting up against rocks they realised he may be in trouble. A doctor already at the scene attempted to resuscitate him but he did not respond to CPR or the use of a defibrillator to restart his heart. Police confirmed shortly after 3pm the man had died.

Local officers will prepare a report for the coroner.