Boat Hits and Seriously Injures Surfer at Currumbin Alley

[Spaniard_King]

A boat has hit a surfer on the bar at Currumbin this morning exposing the surfers skull, he was then taken aboard the boat and taken to the sand ramp at Currumbin.

The emergency paramedics were first on the scene a few minutes later with the Surf life guards and Ambulance hot on their heals. they worked on the guy for 40-50 minutes befor the ambulance left.

I was having mothersday breaky in the park next to the ramp and saw the aftermath evolve. One guy who was in the thick of it told me the guy had a lot of skull exposed.

Didn't take long befor the coppers were everywhere..like 25 -30 of them

Channel 9 were there very quickly and would have most of the footage

Best wishes to the surfer, I hope he makes it.

[Jackinthebox]

Bugger for the surfer and the skipper!

I wonder what angle the news will take?

[OPTI]

not good news ,im surprised it hasnt happened in the seaway yet ,i know ive had a couple of close calls

[Chimo]

1.52 pm Courier mail
A SURFER has died in hospital after being struck by a boat on the Gold Coast this morning. The man was surfing at Currumbin Alley, one of the Coast's busiest surf spots, when he was hit by a boat crossing the notorious Currumbin Bar.
He was pulled from the water and rushed to hospital but later died.
The boat driver, who helped rescue the badly injured surfer, was in shock.
Police have appealed for witnesseses to the incident.

[Angla]

That is just terrible for all concerned

I hope safety can be heightened in relation to this sort of tragedy having happened

Chris

[Spaniard_King]

Unfortunately it was something that was bound to happen sooner or later. It s a catch 22 situation. you slow down to 6 knot s and risk your own life when a wave hits your boat.

I am sure we will hear a lot more about this incident. I feel for both the driver and surfer, the driver has obviously not seen the surfer.

I would think the driver will be charged over it but thats not the answer to the problem, what are your thoughts on this?

[finding_time]

Yeh well the Skipper will be charged, there is no doubt about that, and although this inncident has already wrecked the skipper life he's in for a very tough and expensive time that's for sure.

There is a court case on at the moment that envolves a motorist who hit a bike rider at 10pm one night, the cyclist was on the wrong side of the road, had no lights on his bike and had been allegedly smoking dope and was also alledgedly weaving all over the road he had almost been hit by 2 other cars, yet the motorist is charged with vehicular manslaughter, what a great world we live in, they have to find someone to blame , even for accidents!

Was it at dawn Garry or was it later in the day??? Gees it's hard to see surfers early in the morning and late in the day!

[Spaniard_King]

Ian, It was around 8 am not sure if the boat was going in or out. Having seen the driver he looked like he new he is in for a tough road

[Knotpretty]

Sad news for all concerned. Thoughts are with the skipper and families involved.

[Axl]

Thats awful news I feel for everyone involved ive never crossed that bar myself but it sounds like a busy place. Surfers and boaties cant be a good combination.

[finga]

Sorry to hear the news but it was something that was going to happen. It was just a matter of when.

It seems to me it's a catch 22 situation.
I can see where the skippers vision may have been hard due to the rising sun and surf and he really would have had his mind on other matters (ie not flipping) as well as not hitting anything.
I still cannot for the life of my figure out why people surf where it is known for boats to be coming in and out all the time. Self preservation would tell me it's not a good place to have a surf.

Maybe bars should be declared surfy free zones just like pedestrians, bicycles, horses etc are not allowed on the M1??

It really sucks when the place you can have a good surf is in the place you never want to have a breaking wave. That place been at bar where boats are crossing all the time.

If anyone is to blame is the people responsible for the bar. ie local or state government.

[Giffo65]

A very sad day for the families,especially being Mothers day.I crossed that bar every time I went fishing outside when I lived on the Goldy,it is a busy area for both boats and surfers,I have had to dodge surfers a few times when coming back in.You can't ban surfing there though,I don't know the answer.

[finga]

You can't ban surfing there though

Why not?
You can't ride a board in between the patrolled flags so why not just put two flags up on either side of the bar.
If something drastic does not happen this type of tragedy will occur with increasing frequency.

[Muddy Toes]

Yeh well the Skipper will be charged, there is no doubt about that, and although this inncident has already wrecked the skipper life he's in for a very tough and expensive time that's for sure.



what a great world we live in, they have to find someone to blame , even for accidents!

Unfortunately that is where the terms 'legal system' and 'justice system' differ so much.

[Triple]

Why not?
You can't ride a board in between the patrolled flags so why not just put two flags up on either side of the bar.
If something drastic does not happen this type of tragedy will occur with increasing frequency.

And all the surfers will be saying ban all boats using the bar.. is that drastic enough?