Two divers rescued off the Gold Coast after more than 20 hours at sea

A remarkable rescue operation unfolded off the coast of South East Queensland, where two divers were found safe after an harrowing ordeal of more than 20 hours adrift at sea. The alarm was raised on Saturday morning when the pair, aged 45 and 43, failed to return to their vessel at the scheduled time near Point Lookout on Stradbroke Island. A multi-agency search and rescue effort was immediately launched, spanning the waters and coastline. The critical breakthrough came early Sunday morning when an Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) aircraft spotted the men drifting significantly south of their last known location, about 2.2 nautical miles east of Main Beach on the Gold Coast. Fortunately, a life raft was deployed, and water police provided support until the Surf Life Saving helicopter could airlift the divers to safety. Both men were reported to be in a stable condition and have since been reunited with their families, a testament to the swift and effective response of the emergency services. This incident highlights the unpredictable nature of the sea and the vital importance of preparedness and rapid rescue capabilities.

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They were about 14 nautical miles or more than 25 kilometres south of where they had first been reported missing.