The body of a missing man has been found in a tragic development after a father and son had earlier been pulled to safety following a boat capsize in Queensland waters.
A yacht carrying three men overturned off the coast of Bundaberg on Sunday morning with the vessel believed to have capsized after its keel snapped off.
A 62-year-old man and his 27-year-old son were able to climb onto the vessel while it was upside-down, before setting off an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) about 5am, which alerted the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA).
A RACQ LifeFlight rescue helicopter was deployed before 8.30am which managed to find the two men within about two hours.
A statement from LifeFlight confirmed the two men were successfully pulled to safety near Lady Elliott Island.
“Less than two hours later, the aeromedical crew managed to locate the men and performed two separate winch rescues, hoisting the men individually into the safety of the aircraft,” the statement read.
“They were then flown to Bundaberg Hospital for observation.
“The rescue chopper then returned to the search area to aid Hervey Bay Water Police in locating the vessel.”
Both men remain in hospital in stable conditions.
After 2pm, the body of a 65-year-old man was located by water police.
A report will be prepared for the coroner.
The boat was understood to have been travelling from Yeppoon to Brisbane, with the EPIRB activated about four nautical miles south of Lady Elliott Island.