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UPDATE
Coast Guard crews have been forced to abandon attempts to tow a stranded vessel back to shore.
A Coast Guard Mooloolaba spokesman said the boat’s owner, David Simpson, joined a coast guard crew on Wednesday morning as they tried to dislodge the boat.
However, the crew was 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.
“The dinghy hit me (on) my ribs and I fell about 2.5, three metres off the boat.”
Surf Life Saving Queensland jet skiers, a Westpac Life Saver Rescue helicopter, water police and coastguard members joined in the search. Officials said that up to 30 people took part in the search.
Authorities said they found the 64-year-old man at around 7pm, clinging to a marine beacon in the ocean, some 2.5km off Bribie Island. The man had swum about 2km to reach the beacon and climbed a ladder onto a platform.
Senior Constable Mark Muddiman from Sunshine Coast water police said that bar some minor injuries, the man was in good health.
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A boat was found near Bribie Island, off the coast of Caloundra, 4.30pm Tuesday
Lifeguards went aboard and found the motor on, a dog, but no sign of the crew
A major air and sea search is underway to find those who were on the vessel
QLD Police said a man was found clinging to the ladder of a beacon around 8pm