A kite surfer was picked up by a strong gust of wind on a Melbourne beach Wednesday afternoon.

The 50-year-old kite surfer was at Altona beach when he was picked up and tossed about by a gust of wind, and it is believed his head suffered a bad hit in the process.

The Daily Telegraph spoke to intensive care paramedic Mathew Singh, who said the man was unconscious and in a critical condition when ambulance crews arrived.

"We were told that he was kite surfing and it appeared as though a gust of wind picked him up approximately three metres and then threw him into the shallows where it's believed that he hit his head," he said.

Mr. Singh said the man had to be placed into an induced coma at the scene due to the extent of his injuries.

Asked whether the man could have suffered an injury to his spine due to the extent of the fall, Mr. Singh said a spinal injury couldn't be ruled out, but there is no official medical statement yet.

The man was taken to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition.