A SNORKELLER was pulled unconscious from the water by RACQ-CQ Rescue.
The helicopter service rescued a 55 year old male off the Hardy Reef pontoon, 150km north of Mackay on Saturday afternoon.
A RACQ-CQ Rescue spokeswoman said the man was a passenger on-board a day cruise to the Great Barrier Reef and was snorkelling off the popular pontoon when he suddenly surfaced and cried out for help.
“Cruise staff rushed to his aid but by the time they reached him he was unconscious and had to be pulled from the water and resuscitated at the scene,” she said.
RACQ-CQ Rescue loaded the patient on-board at 5pm and he was taken to Mackay Base Hospital in a stable condition.
The reason for his loss of consciousness is unknown.
