Qld: Thousands hit the boxing day beaches

AAP General News (Australia)
12-26-2001
Qld: Thousands hit the boxing day beaches

BRISBANE, Dec 26 AAP - Queensland's heatwave drew more than 100,000 people to beaches
on the Gold and Sunshine coasts today, but lifesavers reported only one serious accident
with a man being flown to hospital.

Surf Life Saving Queensland development officer Peter Dawes said the number of people
on the beaches today rivalled the largest ever crowds seen on Queensland beaches on Boxing
Day.

"We saw literally tens of thousands of people hitting the beach today and it is fantastic
to see we recorded no major incidents," Mr Dawes said.

"The more people that head to the beach usually results in a busier day for our surf
lifesavers and we wish to thank all the beach-goers for being safe and sticking to the
flagged areas today and making the day much easier for lifesavers."

Mr Dawes said the most serious incident was at Point Lookout where people had been
jumping off cliffs into the sea.

One man suffered a suspected spinal injury and was airlifted by helicopter to the Princess
Alexandra hospital in Brisbane.

Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter chief pilot Dick Snell said people had been jumping
from the cliffs despite requests from lifesavers for them to stop.

"The man who was injured jumped more than 70 feet (21.34 metres) off the cliff behind
Main Beach," Mr Snell said.

He said the 30-year-old man had been placed in a neck brace before being flown to hospital.

On the Gold Coast there were 10 rescues, mostly of people outside the flags, with one
woman having to be rescued by a rescue boat at North Kirra when she was 200 metres offshore
outside the flags.

On the Sunshine Coast almost all beaches were flying a yellow caution flag because
of one metre surf brought up by the northerly winds.

Mr Dawes said there were no major incidents and no rescues, but at Maroochydore lifesavers
were kept busy herding swimmers back to the flagged areas.

He said with so many people flocking to beaches, flagged areas would be crowded and
people might be tempted to look for quieter areas to enter the water.

"But it is vitally important that people be conscious of their own safety and stay
between the red and yellow flags," Mr Dawes said.

AAP jfs/ph

KEYWORD: SURF QLD NIGHTLEAD

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