Nurses rush to man hit by car

FAMILIES and young children watched in horror as passers-by tried desperately to save a pedestrian who died in hospital after he was hit by a car in Broadbeach yesterday.

Police said the 78-year-old man was crossing the street when he was struck by a vehicle turning right from Albert Ave into Old Burleigh Rd at low speed yesterday at 10am.

The man sustained a head injury and was treated at the scene by two off-duty male nurses – a trauma nurse and a resuscitation nurse – before paramedics arrived.

The man was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition but died yesterday afternoon.

Senior Sergeant Bruce Pearce said the 17-year-old driver of the car had only recently obtained her licence.

“She’s very distraught, very upset,” he said.

The intersection was closed for several hours while the Forensic Crash Unit investigated the incident.

A Queensland Ambulance spokesman said paramedics arrived at the scene to find members of the public performing CPR on the man in the middle of the road.

“The man was in cardiac ar- rest due to trauma. Paramedics have arrived and taken over continuation of care on that patient,” he said.

The spokesman thanked members of the public who came to the man’s aid, including those who held up beach towels and umbrellas to shield the patient from the sun.

“That first compression can make a lot of difference,” the spokesman said.

The incident occurred on a newly resurfaced stretch of the busy Old Burleigh Rd esplanade in front of Pratten Park, less than 100m north of pedestrian crossing traffic lights.

The precinct was filled with people escaping the heat and crowds attending Round 1 of the Fastest Man on Sand contest at Kurrawa Surf Club.

The incident was witnessed by scores of people on the balconies of high rise units overlooking the intersection.

The ambulance spokesman urged anyone in shock to seek assistance.

“If you need any assistance long-term don’t be afraid to contact any of the support services that are out there in the community,” he said.