A reveler was airlifted to hospital after suffering a serious injury while trying to jump into a pool on a crowded Australian beach on Christmas Day.
Police were told the man, aged in his 20s, slipped while cliff jumping into Bronte Pool in Sydney’s east and hit his head on the concrete about 4.30pm on Wednesday.
Emergency services attended the scene and treated the man for head injuries before transporting him to St Vincent’s Hospital by helicopter.
A New South Wales Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that officers are “speaking to a number of people at the scene.”
The cliff is a popular jumping spot for swimmers even though the council has erected barbed wire and spiked posts to try to hinder this dangerous act.
Footage from the scene revealed that the pool and nearby seating area had to be evacuated while the man received treatment.
Officers also responded to a nearby bus stop at 4:35 p.m. after receiving reports that a man had been assaulted.
Paramedics treated a man, who was reportedly unconscious, while police spoke to people at the scene to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.
A man in his 20s was airlifted to hospital after hitting his head while trying to jump into an ocean pool on Christmas Day (pictured, emergency services at the scene)
Emergency services remain near Brontë Beach at the request of Waverley Council in response to the annual ‘Orphan’s Christmas’.
Thousands of people flocked to Brontë Park on Christmas Day to celebrate the holiday despite warnings of increased patrols by rangers and police.
Last year, locals were furious after plastic bottles, broken glass, food scraps, clothing and human waste were left strewn across the park after up to 10,000 people attended.
One local told Daily Mail Australia they “know to stay away from Brontë at Christmas” to avoid the crowded beach and surrounding parks.
While the crowd behaved well, concerns about the mess left behind prompted an earlier warning issued by Waverley Town Council to people planning to spend the day. in Bronte Park and the beach that the authorities would be present.
Their apprehension about the holiday grew when people arrived early on Christmas Day on foot, by car and on buses to fight for limited space on the beach.
But Spicer said he’s confident the steps the council has taken “will make a big difference this year.”
He added that Brontë Park will receive “crowd control lanes and temporary toilets” under the council’s Summer Safe programme.
Witnesses told police the man was jumping into Bronte Pool (pictured) from a cliff and a popular diving spot which has been blocked off by the council with barbed wire and spiked posts.
Waverley Council said it would not tolerate any bad behavior and had taken “a number of important proactive measures to ensure our community can relax and enjoy the summer”.
“The safe enjoyment of our public and recreational spaces is our number one priority,” a spokesperson said.
“We encourage everyone to enjoy our beaches responsibly and safely, ensuring they remain a welcoming space for all.”
NSW Police said officers are carrying out patrols on Bronte, Bondi and Tamarama beaches “due to the large crowds expected over the holiday period”.
Police said they were aware of a planned party in Brontë on Christmas Day and had been working with the organisers.
“There will be officers from Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command, assisted by specialist police, tasked with patrolling the area to ensure the safety of visitors and manage crowd numbers,” a spokesperson said.
‘People are reminded to monitor and respect areas designated as prohibited and/or alcohol-free in the area. Alcohol and water do not mix.
Beachgoers were also warned not to swim or drive boats while intoxicated and said they will have a “significant presence” on the roads and in the water over the next day.