A tense situation unfolded on Tuesday at Robina Hospital in Gold Coast when it was put into a 'code black' lockdown following reports of an armed man in the vicinity. The lockdown, which lasted for approximately an hour, was initiated after members of the public reported seeing a man near the Robina train station with what appeared to be a firearm.
Gold Coast Health quickly responded, prioritizing patient and staff safety by diverting ambulance arrivals and advising against walk-in emergency presentations.
Queensland Police Service swiftly acted on the reports, deploying officers to the scene at around 11:25 AM. After an extensive search, police located and apprehended the individual just after 1 PM near the railway station, which is adjacent to the hospital. The suspect was found to be in possession of a gel blaster, a toy gun that fires water beads, and not a real firearm.
The man, whose identity has not been disclosed, was taken into custody without any incident. He has been charged with going armed to cause fear and is scheduled to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on February 28. Queensland Police will allege the man was holding the gel blaster in a manner that prompted the emergency response.
Following the arrest, the lockdown at Robina Hospital was lifted, and operations have since returned to normal. Gold Coast Health reassured the public that walk-in emergency services were available throughout the incident and emphasized that the safety of patients and staff remains a paramount concern.
In Queensland, carrying a gel blaster in public is an offence due to the potential for these items to be mistaken for real firearms. Gel blasters look identical to various handguns, shotguns and rifles with the colour, size and detail making difficult for anyone to note the difference from a real firearm. Laws regarding gel blasters differ across states and territories in Australia. For example, there is no genuine reason to possess or use a gel blaster in NSW and the maximum penalty for possessing one is five years imprisonment. Having a pistol gel replica can get you up to 14 years. Parents may also be held liable for the same penalty.
Queensland is the only state in Australia where gel blasters are able to be possessed without a licence, although they are categorised as restricted items which means they cannot be possessed without a reasonable excuse. Gel blasters have been involved in several criminal incidents in Australia before.
