A teenager is in a critical condition after falling nine metres from a balcony on the Gold Coast this morning.
Paramedics were called to the St Tropez Apartments in Surfers Paradise just before 1:00am and found the 16-year-old in the hallway of the venue.
They say the teen had been moved by his friends and that paramedics had not been called until 45 minutes after the fall.
The call was made by a stranger in a nearby unit who said the group was concerned about being kicked out.
Justin Payne of Queensland Ambulance Services said it was understood the teen had been drinking since the afternoon with friends.
"It was reported that the patient had been sitting on the balcony before falling backwards and falling down two flights," he said.
"What we determined when we arrived on scene was that the patient had been moved by his friends back upstairs to the apartment block.
"The patient had some internal injuries as determined by the high acuity response unit performing an on scene ultrasound."
Third party called for help
Mr Payne said the teen's internal injuries were "significant" and he was transported to Gold Coast University Hospital.
He said the teen's friends did not realise the extent of the injuries and opted not to call for help.
"The friends on-scene advised paramedics that at first they thought that the patient was not severely unwell," Mr Payne said.
"They thought that at the time he was still conscious and talking to them, so they thought they would just get him back upstairs so that they could observe him and keep him safe.
"If the third party didn't call paramedics based on his injuries, there is a real chance that if the patient was left where he was his outcome could have been quite dire — even at this stage, his full prognosis isn't clear."
According to St Tropez Apartments resident Josephine Nobbs, who made that call, the teenagers had refused to call an ambulance because they were concerned about being kicked out of their Air BnB.
"I was about to go to bed but heard the commotion out in the hallway and saw about five teenagers, including the one unconscious on the ground," she said.
"They had carried this teen up the flights of stairs and were trying to take him into the room.
"It took three of them to carry him up.
According to Ms Nobbs, the teenagers initially said the 16-year-old "had fallen onto grass" then later admitted he had fallen from the balcony.
"I said the paramedics don't care what you were doing, they need to take care of your friend," she said.
"These are meant to be his friends. I feel for the parents and this boy.
"I am really shaken up over it. I'm just so glad I called for help."
Don't move, always call
Mr Payne urged people to always call triple-0 immediately and never move an injured person after an accident.
"Unfortunately, from a paramedic's point of view, the best course of action in the scenario would have been to leave the patient on scene and call us immediately.
"If you find yourself in an incident where someone is injured, we're not concerned at how it happens, but early medical intervention is always the best course of action.
"Please call triple-0 immediately — don't delay, and also particularly with the potential for young persons to be holidaying over the summer months on the Gold Coast and in resorts without adult supervision."
Police are investigating the incident.
