Divers Rescued After 20-Hour Ordeal Off Queensland Coast

Two divers have been rescued after spending more than 20 hours at sea off the south-east Queensland coast.

The Disappearance

Police and emergency services were alerted on Saturday morning that the divers had failed to return to a boat near Point Lookout on Stradbroke Island at their expected time of 9:15am. A large-scale search and rescue operation involving multiple authorities commenced at 10:30am.

The Search and Rescue

Just before 7am on Sunday, an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) Challenger aircraft located the men drifting about 2.2 nautical miles east of Main Beach at the Gold Coast.

The pair were found approximately 14 nautical miles (more than 25 kilometers) south of where they were first reported missing. Following their location, a life raft was deployed and water police provided immediate assistance. The men were subsequently airlifted to land by the Surf Life Saving helicopter.

A Safe Return

Police reported both men were in stable condition when airlifted. Both men have now returned home safe and well following their lengthy ordeal at sea.