Man alleged stabbed in Gold Coast public bathroom

A man has been stabbed in a public bathroom on the Gold Coast.

At around 5.40am on Monday morning, police allege another man followed the victim into a stall at a Burleigh Heads bathroom before stabbing him in the head from behind.

A council cleaner is believed to have entered the facility, attempting to pull the man from the 43-year-old before seeing the knife.

After the altercation, the accused fled the scene.

The 31-year-old, was intercepted by police at 23rd Avenue on Palm Beach and arrested.

He has been charged with attempted murder.

"It is alleged the 31-year-old stabbed and slashed the 43-year-old man with a knife, before he was confronted by passers-by and ran from the scene," a police statement read.

"The men are not known to each other."

The victim was transported to Gold Coast University Hospital in a serious condition with non-life threatening stab wounds.

Witnesses nearby described hearing a "blood curdling scream" from the bathroom as the assault unfolded.

They said the man had been carrying a surf board and had likely been surfing at the popular beach spot.

Police are continuing to investigate the incident.