Beaches disappear as Hamish batters coast

Severe sand erosion from huge ocean swells caused by tropical cyclone Hamish has decimated beaches up and down the South-East Queensland coast.
Beaches as far south as Coolangatta on the Gold Coast remain closed as the super storm cell, which has been downgraded to a category two system, continues to generate damaging winds and abnormally high tides.
Image: Rainbow Beach has been inundated by giant swells.
Photo: Brad Robb