The Bundaberg-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew has winched two people, from the hull of their boat, off the Fraser Coast.
The rescue chopper was tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) to locate the 6 metre boat, shortly before 7am this morning (Sunday 12th June), after its EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon) was activated.
The two fishermen, had set out to go night fishing from Rainbow Beach, on Saturday evening.
The boat started being hit by waves and was taking on water.
The boat slowly sank and turned upside down around 2.30am.
The two fisherman climbed on top of the hull.
Once daylight broke, one of the men decided to swim under the boat to retrieve the EPIRB and activate it.
After being tasked by AMSA, the rescue chopper was able to zero in on the pair’s position, east of K’gari (Fraser Island) and locate them sitting on the hull of their boat.
The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue crewman, was then winched down to the men and one at a time secured them in a rescue strop, so they could be winched into the chopper.
Both men, aged in their forties, were airlifted to the Hervey Bay Hospital for suspected hypothermia.
cue Critical Care Doctor and QAS Flight Paramedic.
