Man found clinging to water beacon after boat runs aground

A Queensland yachtie has described the moment he was flung into the ocean and forced to cling for life to a beacon for three hours while huge waves battered him. His dog was stranded on the stricken boat but has since been rescued.

Clinging to the side of a water beacon for three hours, David Simpson, 64, was able to battle the battering waves while awaiting help after he plunged from his luxury motor yacht off Bribie Island yesterday.

Mr Simpson recalled the terrifying moment he was flung into the water while aboard his yacht, M.V. Focus - his pet dog Mitch still on-board.

David Simpson, 64, was forced to cling to a beacon after he was flung off his boat off the Sunshine Coast. Picture: 9 News

He will later today be reunited with his staffy Mitch, who was rescued and cared for by members of the lifeguard after the yacht ran aground, still running.

A massive search was launched yesterday afternoon after lifeguards and beachgoers spotted Mr Simpson’s unmanned boat moving erratically and aimlessly off the northern tip of Bribie Island about 4pm Tuesday.

Sunshine Coast Lifeguard Corey Jones with Mitch who was rescued from a boat off Caloundra. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He’d been thrown off and was found clinging to a beacon three hours later.

“The wave hit the side of the boat and I was trying to secure the dinghy which had come a little bit adrift and a rope broke holding the dinghy,” he said.

“The dinghy hit me, my ribs and I fell about 2.5, 3m off the boat.”

Mitch the staffy. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Crews this morning returned to the stricken boat but have been forced to abandon attempts to tow a stranded vessel back to shore.

A Coast Guard Mooloolaba spokesman said Mr Simpson joined a crew as they tried to dislodge the boat but they were forced to abandon the effort due to the tow rope snapping and the boat filling with water.

The spokesman said the crew was now planning a salvage operation and would need to pump out the water the boat was taking on.

He said they would return to the boat when conditions allowed.

Crews attempt to pull the M.V. Focus off the beach. Picture: 7 News

Mooloolaba Coast Guard Ian Hunt said Mr Simpson’s tale of survival was miraculous.

“He’s a very lucky man to be able to get to that beacon,” he said.

“He’s a little stressed this morning anxious to get his boat off the beach.”

David Simpson standing on a navigation beacon before he was rescued. Picture: RACQ LifeFlight

Lifeguards and beachgoers spotted Mr Simpson’s boat off the northern tip of Bribie Island about 4pm Tuesday.

“Lifeguards noticed the vessel had run aground just after 4pm and immediately responded,” Sunshine Coast Lifeguard Supervisor Rhys Drury said.

“They conducted a search of the vessel and no one was located on board.”

A police officer and lifesaver take control of the vessel. Picture: 7 News

It is understood the engine was still running and had to be switched off by lifeguards.

Water police, the local coast guard, surf lifesavers on jet skis and a rescue helicopter searched waters off the northern part of Bribie Island for several hours before the man flagged down a passing boat while clinging to a ladder attached to a water beacon about 7pm.

A lifesaver aboard the boat. Picture: 7 News

The search was called off after the man was found safe and well.

Local Glen Whisson said he was walking along the beach when he spotted the yacht moving “aimlessly” around the northern tip of Bribie Island, across from Caloundra, about 4pm.

“It seemed to be drifting very aimlessly,” Mr Whisson said.

“The inflatable dinghy on the back of the boat was just swinging around wildly.

“It came right ashore but there was nobody on board at all … the lifesavers came around in about 5 to 10 minutes and they hoisted one of the guys on there.”

There was no sign of the crew on-board. Picture 7News