Grasstree Beach fisherman missing after boat capsizes off Mackay

A missing fisherman from Grasstree Beach has left the local Mackay community on high alert as emergency services continue their desperate search off central Queensland's coast.

The fishing boat capsized in the early hours of Thursday night near Creal Reef, some 80 nautical miles offshore. Three experienced fishermen were aboard when the vessel overturned in conditions that quickly proved lethal.

An emergency position-indicating radio beacon triggered rescue services at 8:10pm. But response to a remote maritime emergency is always constrained by distance and conditions. Police vessels took five to six hours to reach the location, hampered by poor visibility that made the initial search extremely challenging.

When rescue teams finally arrived, they located a 44-year-old Grasstree Beach man clinging to the overturned hull. He was airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital in serious condition. Several hours later, a second survivor—a 43-year-old from Bray Park—was also rescued and hospitalised.

The third fisherman, a 41-year-old also from Grasstree Beach, has not been found. Police expressed grave concerns for his welfare as the search extended into Friday.

For residents in Grasstree Beach, the incident has struck close to home. Two of the three men live in the local community. Their families now face an agonising wait—one man recovering in hospital after a near-death experience, another still missing somewhere in the ocean.

The incident highlights the inherent risks faced by those who work offshore in Queensland waters. Despite being experienced fishermen, the three men found themselves in a survival situation that tested them to their limits. The rescue operation, while ultimately successful for two of the three, was hampered by the vast distances involved and environmental conditions that reduced visibility and complicated search efforts.

For the two rescued men, recovery will be both physical and psychological. Mackay Base Hospital has admitted both in serious condition. Their families and the local community will be watching closely as they face the road ahead.

Queensland Police have signalled a commitment to finding the missing fisherman. Senior Constable Syrrell Howard outlined the search parameters: "We will continue to search until there's been a determination by health experts that there is limited or no chance of anyone being recovered alive."

Local boaters and recreational water users throughout the region have been urged to remain alert. Any sighting of the missing man should be reported immediately to police.

For Grasstree Beach and the surrounding Mackay region—areas where fishing and maritime work are woven into the community's fabric—this incident serves as a sobering reminder of the ocean's power and the price that can be paid by those who venture into unpredictable waters. The search continues in hope that the missing fisherman will be found.