Charter fishing boat rolls on notorious Moreton Bay bar
A charterboat with 11 people on board rolled on the bar but a swift rescue has saved the dayTwo people have been flown to hospital and nine others have received medical treatment after a fishing charter boat capsized on Moreton Bay this morning (April 26, 2017).
Police and emergency services were called just after 6am after the boat carrying 11 people, nine pax and two crew, capsized near the Moreton Bay bar.
The Brisbane Times is reporting the boat's name is Firebird from Moreton Island Fishing Charters. According to the boat's website, the big walkaround fishing charter rig is capable of taking 12 people with two crew offshore.
Water Police vessels attended and recovered all those who were on board and transported them to Stradbroke Island. Some were said to be suffering hypothermia.
One man was airlifted from the island in a serious condition with a back injury and all the other occupants of the vessel have been treated at Dunwich for non-life-threatening injuries.
The vessel was being towed back to the mainland and Queensland Police said investigations are continuing.
One report from a paying fisher aboard said a pair of rogue waves overturned the boat on the South Passage Bar between North Stradbroke and Moreton islands.
From all reports, there were people in the water, scrambling to stay afloat and on the upturned hull, and valiant rescues were affected by paying customers and Police of some folk who couldn't swim.
WEATHER WARNING
Meantime, in NSW, Gale Warnings have been issue for the Macquarie Coast, Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast, Illawarra Coast, Batemans Coast and Eden Coast for the next few days (April 26 and 27), along with fish alerts and small-boat warnings.
A low is developing over the southwestern Tasman Sea bringing a vigorous south to southwesterly change to the entire NSW coast. Winds will reach 40 knots in some areas, with seas up to 5 metres plus swell up to 5 metres.
The gales and building seas will extend from the Gippsland in Victoria up the NSW coast and affect southern Queensland where the swell will reach 2-2.5m
More from BOM on Marine Weather Warnings.
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