Woman drowns, man missing after late-night swim at Gold Coast Beach

Hopes are fading for a man who went missing off a Gold Coast beach during a late-night skinny dip with a Victorian woman, whose body was found washed-up.

A woman has drowned and a man is missing, feared dead, after the pair went swimming in 1.8m swells at a Gold Coast beach on Thursday night.

Hopes are fading that the 32-year-old man, who is believed to be a British national who lives locally, will be found alive.

He has been identified as Gold Coast gym manager Jake Jacobs.

Jake Jacobs is feared dead.

Speaking on the Gold Coast this morning Acting Inspector John Diggle said police were now “conducting a recovery mission”.

“We don’t expect to find anyone alive,” he said.

“I know the all terrain vehicles are travelling up to the spit and back.

“I’m thinking, as an amateur, the water would take the body north (of Kurrawa beach).”

The dead woman is believed to be a 29-year-old from Victoria on holidays in Queensland.

He described surf conditions as ‘appalling’ and ‘very unstable” with swells up to 1.8m.

Surf lifesavers at Broadbeach ready to assist in the search for the man who went missing overnight. Picture: Scott Powick.

Emergency services were called to Kurrawa Beach in Broadbeach about 10.15pm after a woman’s body washed up on the sand.

Acting Insp Diggle said the woman was found unconscious at the water’s edge and could not be resuscitated.

“Queensland Ambulance responded but were unable to resuscitate her and sadly she was pronounced life extinct,” Acting Insp Diggle said.

“The female had a swimsuit and we don’t know about the man, but we did find some clothes on the beach belonging to the male.”

People in the water at Kurrawa Beach despite ‘no swimming’ signs. Photo: Scott Powick.

The search for the man resumed early on Friday morning, with the Rescue 500 Helicopter assisting.

Water police also joined in the search, while local officers conducted patrols on the beach in police buggies in an effort to locate him.

Two officers were taken to hospital after they were thrown from a rescue boat during the search.

A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said a patient in his 30s suffered back, facial and rib injuries while a man in his 40s received facial and rib injuries.

One cop was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital, while the other was taken to Pindara Private Hospital.

The Rescue 500 helicopter has just joined the search for a man missing after a late night swim at Broadbeach. @TheTodayShow pic.twitter.com/ubBbuH3jtq

— Reece D'Alessandro (@R_DAlessandro9) February 4, 2021

A woman walks past a ‘no swimming’ sign. Photo: Scott Powick.

Insp Diggle said he expected the body would be recovered.

“Because we’ve got Rescue 500 and water police in the area, they do a great job ... they’ll find it (the body),” he said.

Insp Diggle said the man’s clothes were found on the beach, while the woman was found wearing a swimsuit.

A car believed to belong to the man had a ‘Get Naked Australia’ sticker on it, amid suggestions he may have been skinny dipping.

The pair’s next of kin are yet to be notified.

It’s understood the man and woman were seen in CCTV footage earlier on Thursday evening outside the Kurrawa Surf Club before it’s believed they went for a swim about 9.20pm.

He said the footage showed the pair collecting a towel from the man’s car and at the water’s edge.

Gold Coast City Council Life Guards erect ’beach closed’ signs on Friday morning. Photo: Scott Powick.

A search of the beach late on Thursday night uncovered clothing and car keys believed to belong to the pair. The man’s car was also found in a nearby car park.

A report will be prepared for the coroner in relation to the woman.

Meanwhile, Gold Coast City Council lifeguards have closed all beaches from North Burleigh to The Spit due to the ‘treacherous’ surf.

“Beaches further south remain open but will be monitored closely throughout the day,” a council spokeswoman said.

“Heavy easterly swells have made inshore conditions on open beaches particularly treacherous for swimmers, and surfers are advised to exercise caution when surfing the southern beaches.”

Police are appealing for anyone who may have information to contact them on 131444.

Originally published as Woman drowns, man missing after late-night swim at Gold Coast Beach