Dragged from rip at Inskip | Gympie News | Local News in Gympie

LIFESAVERS have warned swimmers about the dangerous surf conditions following the near-drowning of a Victorian woman at Inskip Point yesterday.

The woman, 35, was in a critical condition at Nambour Hospital last night after she was caught in a rip during a swim in front of Dorrigo Campground at around 8.30am.

It was believed she was pulled to shore by her boyfriend, who administered CPR with the help of an off-duty police officer.

Tin Can Bay Ambulance paramedic Steve Horne said the men were able to get the woman's heart going and resuscitation continued with the combined help of paramedics, firefighters and lifeguards until the AGL Rescue Helicopter arrived.

He said the woman had cardiac output but wasn't breathing when she was transferred to the rescue helicopter about an hour after she lost consciousness in the surf.

Rainbow Beach life guards have asked campers and day visitors not to swim where there are no flags. They said there had been a lot of flash rips occurring at the moment and people needed to be extra careful.

Locals have long warned of the dangers of swimming in that particular area, especially in recent conditions. Large seas in the past week have stirred up sand on the ocean floor, leaving it soft and unstable. This creates sand movement and causes flash rips.