Five rescued off north Queensland after authorities see SOS message in sand (ABC)

By Ashleigh Stevenson April 22, 2014, 8:04 am

ABC Rescuers spot an SOS message written in the sand.

Five people have been rescued after spending Easter Monday stranded on a rock off north Queensland after their boat broke anchor and drifted out to sea.

Queensland water police discovered a six-metre boat adrift near Brampton Island, about 30 kilometres north-east of Mackay early yesterday afternoon with nobody onboard.

After searching the area for several hours to no avail, a rescue helicopter was called to help find the boat's occupants.

Rescuers spotted an SOS message written in the sand at nearby Wigton Island about 5:30pm (AEST) and soon after found five people on a rocky outcrop.

The group had left the boat and gone ashore early in the morning.

They returned to discover the boat had broken anchor and drifted away.

All five were winched to safety after spending about nine hours stranded on the rock.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/22827988/five-rescued-off-north-queensland-after-authorities-see-sos-message-in-sand/