Queensland beachgoers are being warned of rough and dangerous conditions ahead, on the back of three near drownings on the Gold Coast.
Beach closures and hazardous surf warnings are expected over the next three days, with swells predicted to reach up to a metre high from the Gold Coast to Cairns.
A Bureau of Meteorology spokeswoman said damaging winds of 10–15 knots are also expected.
“We are seeing a strong south-easterly wind making the waters quite choppy. There is also a weakening trough and an embedded low on the southern coast that is contributing to rough conditions,” she said.
“Being a long weekend, we know a lot of people will be heading to the beacxjmtzywh, so keep an eye out for beach closures and warnings before heading down as conditions can change quite rapidly.”
The warning follows after three people who were holidaying on the Gold Coast almost drowned.
A female in her teens, a woman in her 60s and a man in his 40s found themselves in dangerous conditions after they were pulled into a rip in a closed section of a Surfers Paradise beach at 6pm on Wednesday.
The trio were rescued by bystanders and nearby surfers before being rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in a stable condition.
Queensland Ambulance Service Gold Coast senior operations supervisor Adam Flory urged all beachgoers to swim between the flags, obey signage and avoid swimming at night.
“We can’t see people in the water in the dark,” he said.
“It makes it hard for first responders to be able to locate those persons.”
“If it wasn’t for the quick action of local bystanders and board riders, it probably would have been a different outcome.”
