Jet ski rider saves unconscious swimmer after recently completing CPR course

A jet ski rider who recently completed a CPR course has saved the life of a swimmer on the Gold Coast.

Beau was travelling through the Gold Coast Seaway, when he spotted two people in distress on the shoreline.

He quickly made his way over to the pair and found a teenager unconscious.

"We see a fella in the seaway with his mate unconscious and foaming at the mouth," Beau told 9News.

"He'd hit his head coming off the seaway rockwall, and he was in a world of hurt."

Beau then hailed down a boat and abandoned his jet ski as he helped the stricken 17-year-old on to the vessel.

"We got him on to the boat as quickly as possible and I asked who knew CPR on the boat and no one did," he said.

"I jumped up there straight away and followed the steps."

9News Beach and Surf Presenter Luke Bradnam was on his way out for a fish this morning when he heard about the incident on his boat's radio.

"I heard the emergency call and it was literally right where I was," he said.

"They said a young fellow was in real distress."

When Bradnam found the men, Beau was already there giving CPR so he decided to run to a dive boat for additional oxygen.

"One of the big dive boats here lent us some oxygen which was fantastic," he said.

"We called the ambulance and the ambos turned up pretty soon."

Emergency crews rushed to the scene and administered further treatment before transporting the surfer to hospital.

Paramedic William Houghton said the actions of the people who found the surfer were critical to saving his life.

"They administered really good first aid to the young man," Mr Houghton said.

"It made such a difference to him so the timing was brilliant."

Bradnam said the young surfer would not be alive if it wasn't for Beau's actions.

"Beau literally saved this guy's life," he said.

"I had him in the boat afterwards because he abandoned his jet ski in the middle of the seaway and he told me he'd just done that refresher course on CPR."

Beau works on an oil and gas rig and takes a refresher CPR course once a year.

He said it was lucky that he had recently undergone the training, and urged everyone to brush up on their lifesaving skills.

"The important point that we're trying to get across here is that everyone should know CPR," he said.

"Just practice what you preach. Go out there, do that course, and make sure you can help the people out there because you don't know when it will happen."

The surfer was conscious when he was transported to hospital and remains in a serious but stable condition.

"He's ingested a lot of water and we took him to University Hospital for further assessment," Mr Houghton said.

"But he's talking at the moment, he's conscious and last time we spoke to him he was really appreciative of what's happened today."