The Mount Isa-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter has come to the aid of two overdue boaties, as part of a multi-agency search, in the Gulf of Carpentaria.
The crew was tasked shortly after 3:30pm (Sunday 25th July), by the Queensland Police Service (QPS), after the men’s boat hadn’t returned when it was expected to.
Crew on board the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s (AMSA) Cairns-based Challenger jet, which was also involved in the search, spotted two people on a beach on Margaret Island.
The AMSA crew quickly relayed the information to the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew, who headed directly to the island.
Once the rescue helicopter landed on the sand, they confirmed the two people on the beach, were the two overdue people.
The Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedic assessed both men and found they had no injuries.
It’s believed the boat had a flat battery and drifted towards the island.
The two men chose to camp the night on the island, after arranging to have a new battery delivered to them in the morning.
The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter travelled around 800 kilometres throughout the mission and had to make two stops for fuel.
