A stunned surfer’s e-foil ride was interrupted by an unexpected snake on a popular Coast beach on January 23.
Natalie Crombie filmed a video as beachgoers caught a glimpse of the snake, which had become tangled in the surfer’s foil at Mooloolaba Spit Beach at about 9am.
Ms Crombie said the surfer noticed something was wrong and quickly stopped, calling over lifeguards who were training nearby.
“The snake was still attached to the foil, so they had to paddle it back into shore,” she said.
“Someone mentioned it could have been a python because of the patterning, but I’m confident it was a sea snake.”
Despite the shock encounter, Ms Crombie said the surfer remained calm.
“He seemed pretty calm about it, considering,” she said.
“He couldn’t really get back on the board, but he handled it well.”
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Lifeguards worked to safely remove the animal, which was still alive, and transport it for care.
“The lifeguards loaded it onto one of the quad bikes with the foil and took it away for treatment,” Ms Crombie said.
Sunshine Coast News has contacted Surf Life Saving Queensland and Australia Zoo for comment.
