Former NRL star and media personality Corey Parker and his radio star wife Margaux have posted footage from the terrifying storm that lashed the Gold Coast on Christmas.
A powerful and fast-moving weather event swept across the Gold Coast on Christmas Day, leaving significant damage in its wake.
The storm struck shortly after 3pm, bringing heavy rain and sudden, violent wind gusts that caught residents and holiday-makers off guard.
Meteorologists later identified the system as a microburst, a highly localised downburst capable of producing destructive winds in a short period.
Wind speeds exceeded 80km/h in parts of the city, creating white-out conditions and dramatically reducing visibility.
Southport was among the hardest hit suburbs as the storm tore through the area.
Former NRL star Corey Parker struggles to hold the family camping site together in the wild storm
Parker’s radio personality wife Maugaux posted images and video of the storm the lashed the Gold Coast
There was widespread damage through the caravan park the Parkers were staying at for the holidays
A construction crane partially collapsed during the intense weather, damaging nearby powerlines and infrastructure.
The Parker family were on the Gold Coast for Christmas Day when they were caught up in the storm, sharing images and video of the aftermath along with Corey desperately trying to keep their camp site together.
‘Merry Christmas everyone, a ripping storm has come through here at the caravan park,’ Maugaux posted to social media.
‘A crane has folded in half up there, everybody has lost their marquees, their boats, cars, annexes, but we still have each other and no one got hurt.
‘Thank you so much for checking in on us, we are doing well and we are safe.
‘Unfortunately, we’re not allowed back into our caravan, they have blocked off an exclusion zone for about 100 caravans, and no one is allowed to go in there to retrieve any belongings or get any of their personal items or things or check on their property.
‘So they’re going to put us up in a hotel tonight, in temporary accommodation, until they figure out how they can get that crane down as quickly as possible so that everybody stays safe.
‘But yeah, as I said, we’re fine, and it’s just one of those things.
Maugaux, Corey and their family were unharmed during the storm which locals said had the intensity of a cyclone
Canopies and gazebos were tossed around like twigs, boats were overturned and camping sites destroyed in the wild weather
The Parkers and other holidaying visitors were unable to return to their caravans with police putting an exclusion zone in place
‘We can’t control it, we can’t change it, so we’re just kind of managing it.
‘It’s a bit of a s*** fight, it was pretty wild, but I appreciate all your concerns and Merry Christmas.’
Emergency services were quickly dispatched to the scene following reports of structural damage.
Queensland Police declared an emergency under the Public Safety Preservation Act as conditions deteriorated.
A large exclusion zone was established, covering major roads, waterways, and nearby residential areas.
People inside the zone were instructed to stay indoors while the storm passed.
Several nearby buildings and a caravan park were evacuated as a safety precaution.
Aerial footage later revealed overturned gazebos, damaged caravans, and debris scattered across the area.
Holiday-makers described the storm as sudden and frightening, but over almost as quickly as it arrived.
Some residents said the winds were strong enough to lift heavy outdoor furniture and rattle high-rise buildings.
Power outages followed as the storm knocked down powerlines across the region.
Thousands of homes and businesses across the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and surrounding areas were left without electricity.
Energex crews reported numerous faults and downed lines, particularly around Southport.
Public transport services were also disrupted due to storm damage.
Despite the severity of the weather and widespread destruction, no injuries were reported.
Emergency crews remained on site into the evening, working to secure damaged structures and restore safety to the affected areas.
