Divers Rescued Off Point Lookout

After an extensive 20-hour search, two missing divers were located and rescued off Point Lookout, as reported by the Queensland Police Service (QPS). The divers, a 45-year-old man from Victoria Point and a 43-year-old man from Robina, went missing in the waters on April 18 and were found the following morning in a stable condition.

The search operation began shortly after the divers failed to return to their boat at the scheduled time of 9:15 AM on April 18. Authorities, including Brisbane Water Police, police divers, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), Marine Rescue Queensland, the Coast Guard, Surf Life Saving Queensland, and aerial support, were mobilized by 10:30 AM.

The breakthrough came just before 7 AM on April 19 when an AMSA Challenger aircraft from Melbourne spotted the divers approximately 2.2 nautical miles east of Main Beach, roughly 14 nautical miles south from where they were last seen. A life raft was immediately deployed to the divers. The water police provided initial assistance on site, followed by the divers being airlifted to safety by a Surf Life Saving helicopter. They were transported to Gold Coast University Hospital and subsequently returned home after being evaluated.

The successful rescue highlights the effective coordination among various rescue services and underscores the importance of swift response in maritime emergencies.