MAN WINCHED FROM REEF AFTER TERRIFYING NIGHT AT SEA
April 14, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAN WINCHED FROM REEF AFTER TERRIFYING NIGHT AT SEA
RACQ CQ Rescue is continuing to search for a missing boatie after earlier winching a 43-year-old Brisbane man out of the ocean about 170km offshore.
The Mackay-based rescue helicopter was first tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) about 9.30pm yesterday to an EPIRB activation at Creal Reef, about 150km north-east of Mackay.
The helicopter crew flew to the scene and quickly honed in on a distress beacon signal on the reef and upon not getting a visual, expanded their search of the area utilizing the aircraft spotlight and Night Vision Goggles. After several orbits of the area, a man was spotted clinging to the hull of an overturned boat. Unfortunately, due to serious fuel and operational constraints, the helicopter was unable to winch the man last night but AMSA search co-ordinators dispatched Volunteer Marine Rescue to retrieve him.
Today, with reports two men were still missing, the Mackay-based helicopter resumed a search of the area and located a naked man floating near the reef. He was spotted by the RACQ CQ Rescue pilot within five minutes of the search recommencing.
A rescue crewman was winched down into the water to secure the naked man into a strop before winching him back up into the helicopter. He was suffering exposure, dehydration and hypothermia after being in the water since about 8.30pm last night. He was in an altered state of consciousness and was suffering serious cuts to his body from the reef. He was flown to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
It was confirmed he was the same man located by the chopper crew the previous night on the hull of the overturned boat during a search. The man told the rescue helicopter crew a wave had hit the boat, a seven-metre Goodwin Longboard, about 8.30pm and that there were actually three people on board including himself and two brothers both Grasstree Beach.
All three had clung to the hull of the boat after it sank until the two brothers tied themselves to a blue esky to assist with floatation. They somehow become separated during the night. The rescued man told crews he saw the helicopter circling overhead and then flying away last night.
Crews said the man was incredibly fortunate to have survived the night and that they believed the shallow reef protected him from drifting too far away from the search scene.
Earlier this morning, Volunteer Marine Rescue retrieved another man from the water near the search area and Townsville helicopter Rescue 500 winched him from the VMR boat and transported him to Mackay Base Hospital in a serious condition. He is believed to be one of the brothers from Grasstree Beach.
RACQ CQ Rescue has now recommenced the search for the third man still missing.
RACQ CQ Rescue has rescued a man near Creal Reef, about 150km north-east of Mackay, after he spent a long and horrific night in the ocean. He is the second man rescued after an EPIRB activation late last night. One man is still missing.
Please credit any released photos and video footage to RACQ CQ Rescue.
Please note: Full title of rescue service is RACQ CQ Rescue.
For further information please contact:
Naomi Noy
RACQ CQ Rescue
Ph: 0417 578 182