Two divers have been rescued after spending nearly a full day drifting in challenging ocean conditions off the coast of Queensland.
According to a report by AAP, the men, both in their 40s, were located on Sunday morning after a prolonged search operation. They were discovered more than 25 kilometers south of their original dive site near North Stradbroke Island, highlighting how far they had drifted overnight.
Authorities were first alerted on Saturday morning when the pair did not return to their boat as scheduled, prompting a coordinated response from police and emergency services. The search continued into the next day until a rescue jet finally spotted them at around 7 a.m. on Sunday, approximately 4 kilometers off Main Beach, as reported by AAP.
A life raft was dropped from the aircraft to assist the divers, who had endured hours in rough seas. Water police later reached the scene, and a helicopter was used to airlift the men to safety.
Acting Sergeant Matt Boswell expressed relief at the outcome, saying, "It's a great outcome," while speaking to reporters, AAP has quoted.
The two men, aged 45 and 43 and from the Brisbane and Gold Coast areas respectively, were taken to Gold Coast University Hospital for assessment before being discharged and returning home.
Officials noted the difficult conditions the divers faced during the ordeal. Acting Sergeant Boswell said, "Water conditions were pretty rough," adding, "And obviously, just being out in the ocean for so long, the exposure," as quoted by AAP.