Boatie, 55, found dead off Gold Coast 12 hours after vanishing

Police found the man's body at 8:45am at the mouth of Saltwater Creek, roughly 800 metres south of where he went missing. Emergency crews had been called to the Boykambil Esplanade Boat Ramp at Hope Island about 7pm the night before, after reports someone heard him yelling for help. He was 55 and lived on a sailboat in the Broadwater.

Acting Inspector Peter Venz said the man had fallen overboard from his broken-down tinnie as he tried to steer it back to his sailing boat, less than 50 metres from shore, using an anchor. The conditions worked against him: 25-knot winds and a high tide. 'In a small tinnie, that's quite extreme conditions to be out in the water,' Venz said, adding the pair of factors would have made it 'extremely difficult and tiring' for the man to haul himself back aboard.

The tinnie was discovered several kilometres downstream near Coombabah Creek last night. Venz said the man was a strong swimmer with no known medical conditions, though he had badly cut his foot on barnacles earlier that day. How he ended up in the water remains unclear, but police are not treating the death as suspicious.

The search ran through the night and resumed at first light, drawing in Marine Rescue Queensland, Maritime Safety Queensland, water police, Surf Life Saving and aerial units. Family members joined in on jet skis. 'They're in a state of shock,' Venz said. 'They started the day with hope... now they've received the tragic news that their loved one won't be coming home tonight.'

Venz said the family was grateful to the rescuers for finding him, giving them some closure. He urged boaties to check conditions, tell people where they're going and wear a life safety vest. Police will prepare a report for the coroner.