Palm Beach, Gold Coast: International tourist pulled from water after drowning
A tourist who was pulled from the water on the Gold Coast could not be revived.
The man, aged in his 30s and visiting from abroad, was swept away while swimming in Palm Beach shortly after 4pm on Saturday.
Emergency services rushed to the beach near Twenty First Avenue at 4.10am and the man was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Queensland Police Service.
The tragedy unfolded at the popular swimming spot on the Gold Coast on Saturday, as temperatures reached 28 degrees.
Following the drowning, locals who were there at the time took to social media to express their condolences to the man’s family and offer their thoughts to first responders.
One person wrote on Facebook: “So sad. Such a tragic time for his family. I also feel sorry for all the volunteer lifeguards.”
According to Royal Life Saving Australia, there have been 32 drowning deaths across the country since December 1; This is below the five-year average of 48 over the same period.
In August, Adam Weir, chief executive of Surf Life Saving Australia, said rip currents remained Australia’s number one coastal hazard, responsible for more than 1 in 3 of beach drowning deaths.
Police said the man’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.
