Man drowns after incident in swimming enclosure on the Gold Coast Broadwater

The body of a man who went missing on Sunday afternoon after submerging in a swimming enclosure off the Gold Coast Broadwater parklands has been recovered.

Emergency services were called to Paradise Point parklands around 4pm on Sunday after a 29-year-old man became stuck in nets while swimming at the enclosure.

As reported by the Gold Coast Bulletin, Queensland Police confirmed they found the body four hours after he went missing, following a frantic search including water police, a police helicopter and the dive squad.

A man who witnessed the tragedy claimed two men were sitting on the net’s float when one disappeared.

He advised “they were both sitting there … two guys maybe 27, 28 years old, and the guy says hold my beer.

“I said ‘stop’, you could see what was going to happen.

“He tried to jump off but the current took him, he came up once and I swam to him but then he went under the net.”

The witness said the man did not resurface, adding “it was so f***ing obvious what was going to happen, it’s why I yelled ‘don’t!

“It’s so sad.”

The missing man’s friend spoke to paramedics to assist in the search.

The incident came on a day when the Parklands were busy with families out enjoying the warm weather. Hundreds gathered to watch as the search continued.

On Sunday, a spokesperson for the City of Gold Coast said the city, which operates the parklands, were working with emergency services.

The statement advised “the City is aware of the incident that occurred this afternoon within the swimming enclosure at Paradise Point Parklands.

“We are actively co-operating with authorities to understand the cause of the incident.

“The city will provide any assistance it can to emergency services to assist in this matter.”

Image: The Gold Coast's Broadwater and Parklands with its swimming enclosure in the centre.