Search continues for missing fisherman off Mackay coast

A desperate search is continuing for a Queensland fisherman missing after his boat capsized off the central coast, with authorities making clear they are committed to finding him despite the successful rescue of his two companions over the past day.

Three experienced fishermen were aboard a vessel near Creal Reef, roughly 150 kilometres offshore from Mackay, when disaster struck late Thursday evening. At 8.10pm, with conditions deteriorating, they activated an emergency position indicating radio beacon — a distress signal that set in motion a coordinated rescue response involving police vessels and helicopters. Within hours, rescue teams were scrambling to reach the remote location, racing against darkness and poor visibility.

By Friday morning, two of the three men had been pulled from the water. The first rescue came just after dawn when a man was spotted clinging to the overturned hull and airlifted to Mackay Base Hospital. A second man was recovered about five hours later, also taken to hospital for treatment. But the third — a 41-year-old from Grasstree Beach, brother to one of the rescued men — remained missing as daylight revealed an empty search grid.

The gap between the successful recoveries and the ongoing absence of the third man has intensified focus on the search operation. Rescue efforts in those waters face inherent obstacles: the capsule occurred in rough seas with limited visibility, and response vessels require between five and six hours to reach the offshore site. That travel time proved critical in the first rescue — a helicopter spotted the man clinging to the hull Thursday night but lost visual contact before he became detached from the vessel, a detail that has raised questions about what happened in the darkness.

Queensland Police have signalled their determination to continue the search. Senior Constable Syrrell Howard stated that authorities would press on "until there's been a determination by health experts that there is limited or no chance of anyone being recovered alive." That commitment reflects both the seriousness of the situation and the recognition that experienced mariners understand the protocols and preparation that maximise survival chances.

The successful rescue of two men from such a remote location demonstrates the effectiveness of modern maritime safety systems. The EPIRB — designed for exactly these scenarios — triggered a response that brought rescue teams to the right location despite poor conditions. Yet the missing third man underscores how quickly maritime emergencies can overwhelm even experienced crews and well-coordinated rescue efforts.

Authorities are appealing to the broader maritime community for assistance. Recreational boaters, fishing vessels, and other water users in the region have been asked to watch for any sign of the missing man — wreckage, personal items, or any indication of survival. In remote offshore search operations, passing vessels or private boaties often provide crucial sightings that official search teams might miss, and public vigilance can prove decisive in recovery efforts.

The incident highlights both the resilience of maritime rescue systems and their limits. Three experienced fishermen, proper safety equipment, and a well-functioning distress beacon resulted in two successful rescues. But the circumstances that separated the third man from the vessel remain unclear, and his continued absence reflects the unpredictability and danger inherent in deep ocean waters. As the search continues, the focus remains on locating him and bringing him home.