A Noosa surfer is urging people to comply with wave-riding etiquette following an incident that sent him to the emergency department.
Derek Symons required 17 staples in the back of his head after being run over by a surfboard in the waves at Noosa National Park on Sunday.
The 42-year-old surfer said local breaks were becoming dangerous as more people took up surfing in the area.
"One person cut me off and knocked me off a wave, and then while I was recovering and trying to untangle everything, his partner or friend caught the next wave and just ploughed straight over the top of me," Mr Symons said.
"It's just stupid actions and people don't think about the consequences but it could have been way worse.
"Honestly I hope next time she seriously thinks about all the people out there and doesn't snake people and cut people off."
Mr Symons urged people to comply with surfing etiquette and stop dropping in on others' waves to prevent more people from getting hurt.
"I am a capable surfer, a strong paddler and have been surfing in Noosa for over 20 years now," he said.
He said the skilled surfer who hit him could have easily avoided the collision.
"To go out there and not turn when you could have easily gone around someone — why would people purposely want to hammer someone?" he said.
"Lucky it was on top of my head and not my face or spine. Surfing is supposed to be fun.
"Please watch out for others out there especially when it is pumping … this doesn't have to happen."
A swelling issue
Noosa Boardriders Club president Paul Peterson said abiding by surfing etiquette was paramount for safety.
"If someone is taking off on a wave, especially if they are about to pull into a gnarly barrel behind the rocks, and you paddle in, that shuts that wave down on them [and] it puts them in a dangerous situation," Mr Peterson said.
"Sure you may get the wave of your life, but you've just ruined their wave and possibly caused injury to them.
Most beaches have public signs showing the rules of the line-up: no dropping in, snaking, and closest to the white water has right of way.
"Unfortunately people don't read the etiquette signs," Mr Peterson said.
The need to get waves and the desperation some surfers displayed in the line-up after waiting long periods for waves was causing aggression.
"I don't see these issues going away with the increasing population," Mr Peterson said.
"The world surfing reserve and board riding clubs are looking for answers but there is no easy answer and it's a very difficult problem.
"Education, education, education, that's probably as good as it's going to get.
"Without seeing violence as the answer, I see strong management of a line-up [by locals] as the only way it's going to work going forward."
'You could end up dead'
Mr Peterson said inexperienced surfers were also contributing to frustrations and using emergency resources.
"People need to have the ability before they paddle out in these bigger swells, but people also need some respect when they are out there," Mr Peterson said.
In the peak of the ex-tropical cyclone Seth swells, Noosa saw double overhead waves rolling through the points.
He said an inexperienced surfer sparked a major search and rescue mission with helicopters on the weekend.
"Luckily a large swell pushed him up onto the rocks and he was able to escape without dying, but there have been deaths there in the past," he said.
