Five Tourists Hospitalized After Speedboat Crash Near Gold Coast, Emergency Crews Rush In

Gold Coast, Australia— Five tourists were pulled from the surf after a commercial speedboat lost control and slammed into shallow water near the shoreline, throwing passengers from their seats.

The crash happened just after 11 a.m. near Main Beach. The vessel was carrying seven people, including the skipper. It was returning from a 30-minute thrill ride when it hit a sandbank at speed. The nose dug in. The stern lifted.

Queensland Ambulance said five tourists sustained injuries. Two suffered suspected fractures. Three had cuts, bruises and suspected concussion. All were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital. None had life-threatening injuries. The skipper was not seriously hurt.

Witnesses on the beach said they heard the engine rev high, then a sharp bang. One surfer said the boat stopped dead and people were thrown forward. Lifeguards reached the boat within minutes. They held the vessel steady while passengers were helped out.

"We had tourists in the water holding onto the hull," a surf lifesaving supervisor said. "Some were disoriented. We got them onto boards and back to sand. It was messy but quick."

Police closed a section of beach to create a landing zone for paramedics. The boat was left half-submerged, its propeller tangled. Maritime Safety Queensland inspectors arrived to photograph the hull and check safety equipment.

The operator said the boat was serviced last week and the skipper was experienced. The company has suspended tours pending an internal review. Investigators will look at tide levels, speed, and whether the vessel was too close to swimmers and the marked zone.

Tourism operators on the Spit said the channel shifts often after storms. At low tide, sandbanks appear where charts show deep water. One operator said he had reported a new bank in the same area two weeks ago.

The vessel will be towed for mechanical inspection. Statements have been taken from passengers and crew. Authorities expect a preliminary report within days.