STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF DISASTER
THIS tow-in surfer had a narrow escape when his jet ski partner was sucked over his head while he rode inside the barrel of a Currumbin wave this week.
Pumping waves attracted dozens of jet ski tow-in surfers to breaks across the Gold Coast to make the most of conditions.
And although a Maritime Safety Queensland code of conduct states a jet ski operator “must not” operate jet skis faster than six knots within 200m of paddle surfers. some users appeared to flout the rules.
The rules state unless there is no one else in the water tow-in surfing, jet ski freestyling and wave jumping is not allowed near the Currumbin bar and Tallebudgera Creek.
But both spots saw plenty of action after the big southerly swell began on Monday afternoon. Aspiring surf photographer Luke Workman, 16, captured this hair-raising sequence on Tuesday, which he said shocked onlookers.
“Everyone was just amazed and in shock after they fell, he got sucked backwards into the wave while his mate was in the barrel,” the Currumbin local said.
“They were on one of the smaller waves that came through as well.”
He said the pair managed to get back to their ski and continued surfing among boardriders using paddle power to battle the relentless northerly current, which speeds up in big swell on the Gold Coast.
Following the close call Gold Coast water police Senior Sargent Kim Hill said a patrol was sent to the area yesterday after media inquiries.
Sen Sgt Hill said there were fewer skis out on the water and officers did not enforce exclusion zones.
“Police did get down there ... there were only two or three jet skis out,” Sen Sgt Hill said.
When asked yesterday Gold Coast City Council Chief Lifeguard Warren Young would not explain what the tow-in surfing rules are and whether they are enforced.
“When it’s big like that they shouldn’t be doing it,” Mr Young said.
Maritime Safety Queensland’s tow-in surfing code of conduct is also endorsed by Gold Coast City Council and Surfing Queensland.