Latest news with #MarineRescueQueensland
News.com.au
23-05-2025
- News.com.au
Dingo stabbed after biting child, 9, on heritage-listed K'gari off central Queensland coast
A dingo has been stabbed after biting a young boy at a heritage-listed tourist spot in Queensland. A Queensland Ambulance Service spokeswoman confirmed the boy, aged 9, was bitten on the arm by a dingo at Yidney Rocks on K'gari (formerly Fraser Island) about 11.47am on Friday. The dingo was injured by passers-by who ran to the boy's aid, the Department of Environment and Science (DES) said in a statement. Rangers are now searching for the dingo and will increase patrols in the area. 'Visitors to K'gari/Fraser Island are reminded to keep a stick with them, and watch children at all times,' a DES spokesman said. The child was transported to Hervey Bay Hospital in a stable condition with help from Marine Rescue Queensland.
ABC News
30-04-2025
- General
- ABC News
Sailors rescued twice in a week after running aground on Calder Island
Two sailors have been rescued from a crevice in a cliff-face after their sailing boat smashed into rocks on an uninhabited island off the Queensland coast. The man and woman were retrieved from Calder Island, 55 nautical miles north-east of Mackay, after they activated their EPIRB at 2:30am on Wednesday. The CQ Rescue helicopter was used to conduct an aerial search and located the pair within two hours of the distress call being issued. Pilot Leigh Wilkinson said powerful wind and low visibility made it a challenging operation. "Those conditions made locating the people difficult," he said. " The vessel had wedged in a small inlet up against a vertical rock ledge. " David Ugrinic of Marine Rescue Queensland (MRQ) said the chopper was unable to winch the couple to safety "due to the proximity of the cliff face". "I believe they were awoken when they struck the rock and then they put their life jackets on and abandoned the vessel," Mr Ugrinic said. Two MRQ crew members used a tender boat to travel roughly 50 metres to shore while being guided by the light of the helicopter. "The island is rocky and has fringing reefs," Mr Ugrinic said. "It was at low tide, so the water was only about a foot deep and they could motor up and pull the tender up onto the island." The helicopter remained in the air until the volunteers below safely retrieved the man and woman. "When our crew got there they radioed to say the man was quite confused and he was also very cold, almost hypothermic," Mr Ugrinic said. He said the man, 71, and the woman in her 60s had purchased the second-hand, 9.8-metre fibreglass boat from Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast and were on their way home to Bowen. They told the rescuers the vessel was uninsured. They were taken to Mackay Base Hospital with cuts and hypothermia and released after treatment in the emergency department. The boat's sails became tangled earlier this week, prompting a rescue mission. ( Supplied: Marine Rescue Queensland ) Second rescue for pair It was the second time this week emergency services came to the aid of the pair. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) reported that a distress beacon was activated at 5:30pm on Monday and that the Cairns-based Challenger jet located the boat 100 kilometres south-east of Mackay. "These incidents highlight the importance of always carrying a distress beacon on the water — it can save your life," an AMSA spokesperson said. Mr Ugrinic said the jet circled the drifting boat near Sphinx Island until the MRQ vessel arrived. Volunteers helped to untangle the sails on the couple's boat earlier in the week. ( Supplied: Marine Rescue Queensland ) He said the boat's sails had become tangled and wrapped around the main mast. "They could not manoeuvre, so it was pretty much dead in the water," Mr Ugrinic said. " He was also unable to anchor because he either had no anchor or it was too short. " Marine rescue volunteers used an extendable pole to untangle the sails. Mr Ugrinic said the man was an experienced sailor and declined to be towed back to shore to have his motor repaired. He said rescuers did not like to leave anyone with ongoing problems, but they could not force the couple to have the boat towed.
