Duo rescued after boat runs aground on Calder Island off Mackay

A man and woman desperately clinging to an island cliff face after their boat ran aground off Mackay have been taken to hospital following an incredible search and rescue mission. UPDATED

The Mackay Harbour boat ramp where a an elderly couple arrived after being rescued from a cliff face off the oast of Mackay

A man and woman clinging to a cliff face have been rescued and taken to hospital after their boat ran aground on an island off Mackay.

The pair activated their EPIRB just after 2am when their vessel ran up against the cliffs on the southern side of Calder Island, sparking a search and rescue mission in the early hours of the morning.

A BMA CQ Rescue chopper crews was called and provided light for a VMR Mackay rescue after a yacht ran aground at Calder Island, off Mackay. Images: BMA CQ Rescue

The man in his 70s and woman in her 60s were back to shore between 7.30am and 8am this morning.

A spokeswoman for BMA CQ Rescue said initial reports stated the boat was sinking, so time was of the essence.

“It was a particularly dark night and those conditions made locating the people difficult as the vessel had wedged in a small inlet up against a vertical rock ledge,” BMA CQ Rescue pilot Leigh Wilkinson said.

Good weather has created ideal conditions for boat goers meaning an increase in rescues over the last few weekends. Photo: Luke

The rescue chopper flew around the southern end of Calder Island where they were able to find the vessel and the people on board hidden in an inlet where the boat had come aground.

Marine Rescue Queensland Mackay officers David Ugrinic and Lachlan McLennan arrived with QAS about 5am when the BMA CQ Rescue chopper struggled to wench the couple off the cliff face.

Mr Ugrinic said the couple had jumped into the water and climbed onto the rocks waiting for emergency services to arrive.

“When we got to the man, he was a bit confused, he had a knock to the head,” Mr Ugrinic said.

“So, we stabilized him and pulled him down the rock cliff into our tender.

David Ugrinic and Lachlan McLennan from Marine Rescue Mackay at the Mackay Harbour boat ramp shortly after the duo were taken to hospital. Photo: Luke Lay

“Then we transported him to our main vessel where the paramedics treated him.”

The search light was used to light up the area so that Marine Rescue Queensland Mackay were able to see the shallows and ensure they were able to get to the people safely.

Mr Ugrenic said apart from the minor cuts to the man’s head, the couple were in a stable condition.

“They were pretty wet and cold when we found them,” Mr McLennan said.

A BMA CQ Rescue chopper crews was called and provided light for a VMR Mackay rescue after a yacht ran aground at Calder Island, off Mackay. Images: BMA CQ Rescue

They were taken to Mackay Base Hospital about 8am this morning, with QAS saying they were in a stable condition, sustaining minor injuries and minor hypothermia.

Mr Ugrenic said while this was their first major rescue of the year, rescue operations along the Mackay coast have increased following ideal conditions for boat-goers over the past few weekends.

“The only people you’re sort of going out to get are yachties,” he said.

Originally published as Duo rescued after boat runs aground on Calder Island off Mackay