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Woman winched to safety in dramatic rescue

Police and emergency services are scrambling to find two people who went missing off Fraser Island overnight. NATHAN
Emergency services are searching the waters near Fraser Island for a third day after a man went missing at sea.

A large-scale water search for a man who went missing after his boat started sinking has entered its third day.

On Sunday night, two people on-board a yacht off the coast of Fraser Island in Queensland’s southeast radioed for help, reporting that their vessel had started to take on water.

A desperate search is underway for two people missing off Fraser Island (K’gari) in southeast QLD after their boat took on water overnight. NATHAN
A desperate search continues for a man missing off Fraser Island (K’gari). Picture: Supplied

An air and water search began off Sandy Cape in the island’s northern tip to locate the couple, and at about 11.30am on Monday, a woman was pulled from the water by the RACQ LifeFlight helicopter.

The woman, aged in her 20s, reportedly saw the vessel sink but had been wearing a lifejacket and was able to stay afloat surrounded by debris.

RACQ LifeFlight was able to winch the woman to safety. Picture: Supplied
RACQ LifeFlight was able to winch the woman to safety. Picture: Supplied

She was flown to the Bundaberg Hospital to receive treatment for fatigue, but emergency services were unable to locate the man.

The search resumed on Tuesday, with water police, aircraft and Volunteer Marine Rescue teams looking for the man.