A helicopter rescue to save an elderly man, who washed onto the rocks at the Gold Coast Seaway near Main Beach, had been delayed for a number of minutes due to a nearby drone.
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A routine training operation turned into a rescue mission on Wednesday morning when the Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopter Service was tasked to help the man.
However, the mission to winch the man to safety was put on hold while crews were forced to wait for the drone to land before the rescue could be completed safely.
The man was taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital with minor injuries by Queensland Ambulance Service from Doug Jennings Park at Main Beach.
Paramedics transported the man in a stable condition after reports that he fell from a boat at a location near Stradbroke Island at 10am.
Fresh calls for caution when flying drones around the south-east Queensland coastline were sparked after the delayed rescue.
“... Thankfully it didn’t change the overall outcome but in different circumstances those few minutes could make all the difference," Westpac Helicopter crewman Tim Wilson said.
“For us, drones can be near impossible at times to spot on patrol and during rescue operations so we’re really urging drone operators to exercise caution, particularly when we’re flying nearby."
