A family of four has been rescued by helicopter after their yacht became stranded on Elizabeth Reef in the Whitsundays.
ABC News reported that the 10-metre vessel was about 120 kilometres offshore when CQ Rescue was called shortly before 4am on Saturday. The helicopter reached the yacht around sunrise and a rescue swimmer was lowered to assist the family.
The two adults and their children, aged nine and 12, were winched individually and flown to Whitsunday Airport. The father was treated for a head injury and taken to Proserpine Hospital.
CQ Rescue said the operation was challenging because of the isolated location and conditions around the reef. The yacht was reported to be almost submerged by the time the final person was winched to safety.
Source: ABC Tropical North, updated 19 September 2026.
Image disclosure: The featured image is an AI-generated editorial illustration. It is not a photograph of the reported rescue, vessel or family.
