Two injured tourists winched from popular swimming spot

The rescue chopper was called to the scene, north of Maroochydore, just after 5pm.

It’s believed the male tourists had been swimming, with a third friend, when a large wave washed them onto rocks.

Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics and lifeguards were already on the scene, when the aeromedical team arrived.

The helicopter was able to hover close to the ground, so an RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Critical Care Doctor and QAS Flight Paramedic could disembark. 

Due to the location, it was decided the two patients would be separately flown out.

First, a man with a leg injury was winched up to the chopper, accompanied by the QAS Flight Paramedic, before being flown to a nearby park and handed over to a QAS road crew. (Media note – there is no vision of this winch.)

The helicopter then returned to the scene and winched the second man, in a stretcher, accompanied by the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Critical Care Doctor.

He was flown to Sunshine Coast University Hospital, in a stable condition, with suspected spinal injuries.

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