One man missing as his brother and another man are rescued after they tied themselves to an esky to survive a harrowing night at sea when their boat capsized
- Two found and another man missing after boat capsized
- Boat went under off Mackay coast around 8.30pm on Thursday
- Brother of man found clinging to esky is still yet to be located
A search for a man who fell off a boat in a remote reef overnight continues into Friday afternoon as the two other men on board were winched to safety.
The search and rescue mission off the coast of Mackay, Queensland was launched on Thursday evening after a boat containing three men capsized after being hit by a rogue wave.
Two men have been rescued and are in a serious but stable condition in hospital with a third man still missing.
The man who is unable to be located is the brother of the first man who was saved, with the brothers initially tying themselves to an esky before becoming separated.
The missing man’s brother, 42, was rescued on Friday morning, found tied to the esky.
Rescue crews are continuing to scramble after a boat with three men on board capsized around Creal Reef, approximately 150km east of Mackay. Queensland with one man still missing at sea (pictured: RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter)
Two men have been rescued after their boat was struck by a rogue wave around 8.30pm on Tuesday off the coast of Mackay. They and are in a serious but stable condition in hospital with a third man – the brother of one of those rescued – still missing (pictured: Mackay coast)
He was picked up by a VMR vessel shortly after midnight and flown to hospital in a stable condition.
Around 11am on Friday a 43-year-old man was located by an RACQ rescue helicopter and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after being located floating around 170km offshore in the remote area of Creal Reef.
An RACQ CQ Rescue spokesperson told the Courier Mail a rogue wave hit the men’s seven-metre Goodwin Longboard vessel around 8.30pm on Thursday night, causing the boat to capsize.
‘All three were in the water after the boat sank and the two brothers tied themselves to a blue esky… They have somehow all become separated.’
The 43-year-old was found without a lifejacket and with no clothes on.
He is suffering from exposure, dehydration and hypothermia and is slipping in and out of consciousness.
‘As part of the search early this morning, Volunteer Marine Rescue has retrieved another man from the water and Townsville Helicopter Rescue 500 has winched him and transported him to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious condition,’ the RACQ CQ Rescue spokesperson continued.
‘One person is believed to be still missing and the search will continue.’
Around 11am on Friday a second men was rescued by an RACQ rescue helicopter (pictured) and taken to hospital in a serious but stable condition after being located floating around 170km offshore in the remote area of Creal Reef
An update from police in the Whitsundays will be provided on Friday afternoon.
The multi-agency operation has been underway since an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EFIRB) was activated at about 8.10pm Thursday onboard the boat.
About 9.30pm the RACQ-CQ Rescue chopper was called to assist in the search around Creal Reef, approximately 150km east of Mackay.
A Queensland Police spokesperson confirmed an overturned boat was found at about 12.30am Friday.
More to come.
