The warning came after a 16-year-old boy remained in critical condition in Gold Coast University Hospital after being swept off the rocks at Coolangatta on Wednesday afternoon.

Gold Coast Surf Lifesaving co-ordinator Nathan Fife said the boy, who was with friends on the rocks at the alcove known as Froggys around from Snapper Rocks where waves crash over a sea wall near Coolangatta, was pulled unconscious from the water by council lifeguards about 2.30pm.

He was resuscitated at the scene and taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition.

Fife warned that people should stay out of the water and away from closed beaches.

“We don’t put these messages out for the fun of it. It’s about saving lives and protecting people,” Fife told ABC Gold Coast.

“Thrill seeking around rocks and rock fishing, we need people to listen to our lifesavers and lifeguards and look out for each other and stay out of the water.”

Fife said powerful surf meant treacherous conditions in the water and on the ocean’s edge.

“We are warning people please don’t be playing around on rocks when we’ve got waves crashing in. Some of the waves we’ve seen are around two metres plus and that’s a lot of pressure coming against those rocks. It’s very dangerous.”

Fife said conditions on open beaches were also dangerous.

“It’s still very unstable, we have a lot of water moving, we are seeing a lot of big surges coming up on our beaches, so please be careful even out walking.”

Gold Coast Chief Lifeguard Chris Maynard said the swell had dropped Thursday but conditions remained unstable.

Strong wind warnings are still in place for the Gold Coast, but some beaches have been reopened after being closed for most of the week.