A man has died after being pulled unconscious from the water of a popular Gold Coast beach. 

The 54-year-old went swimming at The Spit this morning when he ran into trouble and was spotted unconscious by members of the public.

Surf Life Saving Queensland duty officer Ken Lloyd said it is understood the man was with his carer.

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"He took on a lot of water and blacked out, that's the information that we've got," Lloyd said.

Families nearby used picnic rugs to shelter the man as lifeguards and paramedics performed CPR. 

Despite their best efforts, the man couldn't be revived.

"The public were great, they helped shade him, keep the kids away," Lloyd said.

"They rescued the carer as well."

It is the second drowning on the Gold Coast in less than two weeks.

A 26-year-old Indian man died after being pulled from the water by lifesavers at a nearby beach.

"Water is dangerous, hopefully it's not a sign of things for the summer," Lloyd said.

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Two people are on the run after a knife fight at a shopping centre in Melbourne's north.

Two rival groups fought in a car park at Broadmeadows Central in the city's north at 7.20pm yesterday before continuing the clash inside.

The groups fled in a silver Honda and a white Mazda before police arrived.

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Footage posted online shows men dressed in black in the shopping centre appearing to thrust weapons at each other.

Shopping centre staff ushered customers into stores and closed their shutters while chairs were thrown between the group.

One witness said two people started to fight "out of nowhere".

"Then bang, pull out the machetes," he said.

"It was like a movie. Like, you know, Gladiator? "

One elderly woman reportedly collapsed from shock as the two groups clashed.

A spokesperson for Broadmeadows Central said the incident was "distressing" for staff and customers and managed has increased security.

"We do not tolerate criminal or anti-social behaviour in our centres and are committed to supporting Victoria Police in their investigation," the spokesperson said.

A machete bin is a 500 metre walk from the shopping centre.

The incident has raised questions over whether the Victorian government's amnesty is working.

"Do we have to see someone die in a shopping centre to get the policies that keep people safe? We should have to wait for that," opposition leader Brad Battin said.

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A married couple and their friend have been killed when their light plane crashed south of Sydney.

Owner Andrew Connors, his wife Julieanne and family-friend Colin McLachlan were bound for Bathurst when the Piper Cherokee Lance aircraft they were travelling in crashed at Shellharbour Airport.

The plane took off just before 10am and was in the air for a few seconds before the aircraft tilted onto one wing and crashed.

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The plane burst into flames on impact.

NSW Fire and Rescue crews who were doing a training exercise nearby were suddenly faced with a real-life scenario.

"There was nothing anybody could have done for the occupants of the aeroplane," Andrew Barber said.

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"It did disintegrate upon impact with the ground, one wing came off completely."

Mr and Mrs Connors, who have been described by a friend as fun-loving, were on their way to race weekend with McLachlan.

Mr Connors was known in the community for his company Connors Buildings.

The Australian Transport and Safety Bureau is investigating the crash.

NSW Police chief inspector Aaron Wunderlich said the crash happened in front of up to 15 witnesses, including fire crews and visitors at the nearby HARS Aviation Museum.

Wunderlich thanked emergency services for their work at the scene of the tragic accident.

"They did a fantastic job of what was really a horrific scene," he said.

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