Tourist dies at Palm Beach on Gold Coast after being swept out to sea

The man drowned at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast. Photo / Dan Peled, NewsWire

A tourist was unable to be resuscitated after he was pulled from the water on the Gold Coast.

The man, aged in his 30s and from overseas, was swept out while swimming at Palm Beach shortly after 4pm on Saturday (local time).

According to the Queensland police, emergency services rushed to the beach near Twenty First Avenue at 4.10pm where the man was declared dead at the scene.

The tragedy unfolded at the popular swimming spot as temperatures on the Gold Coast reached 28C on Saturday.

After the drowning, locals who were present at the time took to social media to offer condolences to the man’s family and thoughts for first responders.

“So sad. Such a tragic time for his family. I also feel for all the volunteer lifeguards,” one person wrote on Facebook.

According to Royal Life Saving Australia there have been 32 drowning deaths across the country since December 1, lower than the five-year average of 48 for the same period.

In August, Surf Life Saving Australia chief executive Adam Weir said rip currents remain Australia’s number one coastal hazard, responsible for more than one in three beach drowning deaths.

Police say the man’s death is not being treated as suspicious and a report will be prepared for the coroner.

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