A 52-year-old man is dead after a charter fishing boat capsized at Mooloolaba on the Sunshine Coast this morning.
The alarm was raised just before 6am when a commercial fishing vessel flipped at the mouth of the Mooloolah River.
A police spokesperson said a fishing boat tipped over with five people on board.
A commercial fishing vessel flipped at the mouth of the Mooloolah River. (Supplied)
He said one person, who was initially unaccounted-for, had since been retrieved from the water.
Paramedics said they retrieved three people from the water.
A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said another person was retrieved from the water in a life-threatening condition.
Police on scene said they believed three people on board the charter were wearing life jackets and two people were not.
Investigations are ongoing.
Man ‘experienced skipper’
Robert Smith has been identified as the skipper who died at Mooloolaba this morning.
He operated Smithy’s Fishing Charters on the Sunshine Coast and had years of experience.
According to Mike Middleton, who knew him professionally, the skipper was affectionately known as “Smithy”.
“Rob was a well-known member of the Mooloolaba boating and tourism industry. He was one of the most experienced skippers and used to log in with coastguard at Mooloolaba every time he went in and out,” Mr Middleton said.
“He was very dedicated to what he did. He really knew his stuff and if anybody knew in and out of the bar, it was him. And I’m quite shocked to hear that the boats actually rolled over on the bar.
“Rob was sensational … and a really lovely human to deal with …. I’m really saddened to hear about this incident.”
The skipper of a fishing charter boat that capsized on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast has died. (ABC News: Jake Kearnan)
Mr Middleton said the bar needed urgent attention and would affect tourism.
“We need to look at this as a growing area for tourism. This incident is going to affect tourism enormously,” he said.
“It’s going to affect whale watching, diving, fishing, and all the charter businesses.”
Boat was ‘taking on water’
Sunshine Coast chief lifeguard Trent Robinson said the commercial charter boat was headed out to sea near the Mooloolaba spit.
He said it was low tide and the waves were breaking through heavily when the 7-metre boat started “taking on water”.
“The 1.5m swell was ongoing when a large wave hit the boat and it rolled over,” he said.
Originally, emergency services thought the 52-year-old skipper, who was unaccounted for, could still be in the hull.
They took to the boat, smashing it up, to try and find him.
He was later retrieved from the water, deceased.
Mr Robinson said a Mooloolaba Surf Life Saver retrieved the man while searching on a jet ski.
“They did a fantastic job on scene,” he said.