Man’s desperate attempt to save belongings from houseboat

Dramatic pictures show how a man desperately tried to save the contents of his houseboat after it began sinking near Wavebreak Island early this afternoon.

AN unfortunate houseboat owner desperately tried to save his home and belongings as the vessel started to sink to the bottom of the Broadwater this afternoon.

Our exclusive pictures show the man moving as many items of furniture and clothing up to the top deck as he could in order to keep it away from the rising waters.

At one stage, a smaller boat moored near the stricken vessel helped the occupants as they battled nature to salvage their home.

The man seen on the side of the houseboat as it began sinking near Wavebreak Island today. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

One local man said he had walked past the houseboat a few hours earlier and said it had moved a fair bit in that time.

“It’s lodged on the bottom now, but the tide has come in so it’s probably taken on a lot of water,” he said.

“They’ve obviously tried to move everything up to the top (deck), but I think it’s going to be hard to salvage it now. The hull would have a hole in it, I’d say, and it’s taken on a lot of water which would make it very heavy.

“Another houseboat in the Broadwater bites the dust. It’s almost like a graveyard, these things are so old.

“It’s a cheap way to live I suppose, no rates, no mooring fees.”

The man was desperately trying to save the boat and its contents. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

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Another observer, who said he worked in the marine industry, said the houseboat could be saved but it would cost a fortune to salvage it.

“You could get in there with some pumps and a punt, but it would cost a fortune … probably more than the houseboat itself.”

The Volunteer Marine Rescue, Gold Coast Water Police, Gold Coast Waterways Authority and Maritime Safety Queensland and paramedics all attended the scene as the boat began to sink around midday today.

The man safely left the vessel in another boat. Picture: Tertius Pickard.

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Gold Coast Waterways Authority told the Bulletin there was no water pollution caused from the boat going under.

MP Sam O’Connor wrote on Facebook: “Another houseboat sinking off Biggera Waters”.

“Police have visited and assessed it’s empty and not a safety risk,” he said.

“They’ll likely pass it onto the Gold Coast Waterways Authority to start the process of removing it and for any clean-up.

Gold Coast Waterways Authority told the Bulletin there was no water pollution caused from the boat going under..

“Apparently the owner is in one of the smaller boats. The tide is rising and it looks like they’re trying to pull it off the sandbank with a couple of other boaties.

“We all care about our Broadwater, you can see that from the people watching from the shore, so hopefully it’s sorted out soon.”