A swordfish impaled the leg of a 20-year-old fisherman off the Queensland coast on Wednesday. The victim caught the fish and was hauling his catch into his boat about 190 nautical miles off the Southport Seaway.

Reports said the fisherman slipped and fell on the swordfish's bill which pierced the back of his leg, just above his knee.

An RACQ CareFlight helicopter met the fishing boat 100 nautical miles offshore and treated the victim, who was described by critical care doctor Liz Thompson as in pain but was conscious throughout the treatment and rescue.

She initially treated his deep wound and blood loss and then he was airlifted to the Gold Coast where the fisherman is currently confined in a hospital, but is in a stable condition and recovering.

An RACQ CareFlight spokeswoman said the rescue mission was challenging because the crew barely had 10 minutes to get the victim on board due to the chopper's fuel limit.