UPDATED: A man who was pulled out of the surf and taken to hospital in a critical condition is now in a stable condition.
EARLIER: A man remains in a critical condition after he was pulled from the surf off Mooloolaba Beach on Thursday.
Paramedics were called to a location off the esplanade at about 3.50pm, where lifesavers had brought the man ashore.
He was taken to Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a critical condition and remained in that state on Friday morning.
The incident came two months after a man drowned at the same beach.
A man also drowned at Marcoola in February.
The latest incident also comes just days after Surf Life Saving Queensland issued a reminder to swimmers to stay safe.
“We are asking beachgoers to please be sure you are aware of conditions before entering the surf,” SLSQ general manager lifesaving and education Peta Lawlor said on Monday.
“Look out for your mates and swim only between the red and yellow flags during patrol hours.”
With relatively clear and warm weather forecast for this weekend, Ms Lawlor urged caution.
“When we get a weekend of poor weather (like last weekend), we generally see beach visitations spike the following weekend as people are keen to get out and return to the sun, sand and surf,” she said on Friday.
“It’s when we see big crowds at the beach that people will often look for more space and swim outside the flags, which can lead to trouble.”
There were a spate of tragedies at local beaches in the 2022-2023 surf lifesaving season, when 10 people lost their lives.
Scores of rescues and hundreds of first aid treatments have occurred during this surf life saving season, which runs from September until May.
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