“Lucky to be alive”: Gold Coast surf almost claims two more victims
Two swimmers have been rushed to hospital following a near drowning on the Gold Coast.
Paramedics say the swimmers were “lucky to be alive” given that three other people have died in the “treacherous” surf since Thursday.
Three people have died in dangerous surf since Thursday night.Credit:
The pair, both in their 20s, were pulled from the water at Main Beach at about 2.30pm, despite the beach being closed to swimmers.
They were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in stable conditions.
All Gold Coast beaches north of Burleigh were closed on Saturday because of the dangerous conditions.
A Victorian man aged in his 30s was pulled from surf at Mermaid Beach about 7.30am on Saturday.
Lifesavers and paramedics performed CPR for 30 minutes but he died on the beach.
The man’s death came hours after the body of local gym manager Jake Jacobs, 32, was recovered from the ocean by a Nine News weatherman.
A massive search was launched for Mr Jacobs, who was born in the UK, when the body of his female friend and swimming companion washed up at Kurrawa Beach in Broadbeach.
The woman was in her late 20s and lived in Victoria, but was originally from Europe. Police were still trying to contact her next of kin on Friday evening, and as a result, Brisbane Times has chosen not to identify her.
Lydia Lynch is Queensland political reporter for the Brisbane Times