Man who survived 24 hours in waters after boat capsized in Torres Strait thanks rescuers

A man winched from the Torres Strait after clinging to a sheet of wood in stormy, shark and crocodile-infested waters has spoken since the miracle rescue.

Alone and adrift for 24 hours, clinging to a sheet of wood as it was tossed by stormy seas in the Torres Strait, an exhausted but lucky-to-be-alive boatie has praised those who braved the elements to save his life.

Speaking from his hospital bed on Thursday Island on Thursday morning, Adea Wallington Tabuai, 31, said the sight of the rescue helicopter and vessels on the horizon gave him heart after a terrifying night drifting in waters infested with sharks, crocodiles and deadly jellyfish.

“I was relieved, very relieved,” Mr Tabuai said.

“It felt very good.”

He said he also wanted to thank those who had taken the time to come out and rescue him.

It is understood that Mr Tabuai, who is from the Kubin community on Moa Island in the Torres Strait, previously lived in Cairns and attended Woree State High School.

Adea Wallington Tabuai appeared to be in good spirits in his Thursday Island hospital bed on Wednesday evening, after spending 24 hours lost at sea. Picture: Facebook

Mr Tabuai’s rescue on Wednesday after his dinghy capsized in a remote area of the Torres Strait has been called “a Christmas miracle”.

On Wednesday afternoon, Senior Sergeant Anthony Moynihan, the officer-in-charge of Thursday Island Police Station said the combined operation of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and Queensland Water Police (QWP) resulted in “the best possible outcome”.

Adea Wallington Tabuai, 31, who clung to a piece of wood for 24 hours after his dinghy capsized in shark and croc infested waters was rescued by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and Queensland Water Police Picture: Australian Maritime Safety Authority

He said the man had not been wearing a life jacket or carrying a beacon or flares.

Snr Sgt Moynihan said the man was “very lucky.”

“This is a Christmas miracle,” he said.

“The weather up here was horrendous, it was too wild for a helicopter.”

Snr Sgt Moynihan said the man was understood to have been travelling between Moa and

Warraber (Sue) Islands but did not arrive when expected.

“He had called someone at 11am to say he was still travelling, but around 4pm he had not arrived, the alarm was sounded and we called up the fixed-wing asset, Cairns-based Challenger Rescue Aircraft, which flew over the last known position of the dinghy,” he said.

“Three water police crewed the QPS vessel from Thursday Island.

“There was a lot of rain, wind and a storm.”

A Torres Strait man who clung to a piece of wood for 24 hours after his dinghy capsized in shark and croc infested waters was rescued by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and Queensland Water Police Picture: Australian Maritime Safety Authority

Snr Sgt Moynihan said after the man could not be found overnight everyone feared the worst when the search recommenced at 5.30am.

“We had fixed-wing aircraft, three helicopters, including the Rescue 700, and two Border Force helicopters as well as volunteer marine rescue from Moa Island and seven local vessels from Moa and Warraber helping,” he said.

“At 10.25am around Harveys Rock the Challenger jet located the overturned dinghy, the police vessel attend the location and they then found the gentleman seven nautical miles (13km) north of Thursday Island floating on a piece of wood from the dinghy.”

He said the man was winched to safety and taken to Thursday Island to receive medical assistance.

Water Police from Thursday Island worked with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to rescue a man, 31, after he spent 24 hours clinging to a piece of wood after his dinghy overturned between Getullia Island and Sue Island, in Torres Strait. Picture: Supplied

Snr Sgt Moynihan said police were relieved to find the man safe.

“It looked like he was holding onto a bit of floorboard from the dinghy,” he said.

“Police called the Rescue 700 and he was winched from the ocean.

“But he had no safety equipment and it could have been a different outcome.

“In order to avoid a tragedy we reminded everyone that each police station on the Torres Strait, has free-for-loan grab bags with a location beacon, flares and a lifejacket to borrow.”

Water Police from Thursday Island worked with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to rescue a man, 31, after he spent 24 hours clinging to a piece of wood after his dinghy overturned between Getullia Island and Sue Island, in Torres Strait. Picture: Supplied

Snr Sgt Moynihan also praised his officers and their AMSA colleagues.

“These guys worked so hard and they did not get to watch the funeral due to the rescue,” he said.

“We all thought the worst so to get a good outcome is sensational.”

An AMSA representative said they were happy to assist the QWP.

AMSA said when the upturned dinghy was located in the water and following a short aerial search the missing person was found about 2km from the dinghy clinging to some flotsam.

AMSA said it thanked the crew of Rescue 700 helicopter and the QWP for their assistance and wished the very lucky survivor a speedy recovery.

Originally published as Man who survived 24 hours in waters after boat capsized in Torres Strait thanks rescuers