Capricorn coast: Photo emerges of Brisbane couple rescued from the ocean after three days at see

An extraordinary photo has emerged of an exhausted couple huddled in a heap in a fisherman’s boat after they were rescued from the middle of the ocean after three days.

Benjamin Ng and his partner Pei, from Brisbane, were swept out to sea after getting caught in a current while paddleboarding off North West Island, off the coast of central Queensland, on Saturday afternoon.

The couple, believed to be in their 40s, were miraculously rescued after being dragged some 55 kilometers on Monday night.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that the couple had seen at least four boats go by only to have their cries for help not heard, until fisherman Lorne Benussi and his father Dennis arrived.

The Benussi clan were on a fishing trip in Yellow Patch near Curtis Island and were getting ready for bed when they heard the couple’s desperate cries for help shortly after 10 p.m.

The father and son, from Yeppoon, quickly descended from their 10-meter boat into a tinnie and raced to retrieve the young couple, who were struggling to stay afloat, having recently lost their paddle boards in the waves. .

This photo shows the moment the Brisbane couple fell asleep in a fisherman’s boat after spending three days lost at sea.

The couple had been away from North West Island, which is about 75 kilometers northeast of Gladstone, all along.

Once safely aboard the larger ship, the couple took a hot shower, dressed in fresh clothes, and ate and drank something before going to bed in the cabin.

A photograph taken by Mr Benussi shows the shattered couple fast asleep after spending more than 48 hours fighting to stay alive.

‘The poor bastards had no energy, they were completely exhausted. They couldn’t even sit down,” Benussi told Daily Mail Australia.

The former commercial fisherman said the pair were “absolutely buttfucked” and about to sink when he and his father hauled them aboard their boat.

The pair had already passed four boats in the area and Benussi’s was the last.

Benussi said the couple didn’t say much, but they were “just grateful” to be saved.

He explained that the man was not doing as well as his partner, as he was “barely eating” and only drinking water, half of which he “throwed up”.

The couple “stayed up all night drinking water and cramping” due to severe dehydration and excessive consumption of salt water.

The couple’s ordeal began after they set up camp on North West Island (pictured) on Saturday and went rowing.

The former commercial fisherman dragged the couple into his boat before helping them into his boat (pictured)

The couple had arrived at North West Island, a site with no grid connection and limited services about 7km north-east of Gladstone, via Curtis Ferry Services for a three-night camping trip.

After setting up their site, they took out their paddle boards, but their relaxing afternoon quickly turned into a terrifying test of survival when they were swept out to sea by strong tides.

It is understood that no one called the police to report them missing as the couple were not ready to return from their trip until Tuesday.

Benussi said the couple “wouldn’t last much longer” and that “nobody would have found them.”

“It was very lucky that they floated to shore, otherwise it would be completely different news.”

Benussi waited until morning to bring the couple back to shore due to low tides and poor phone reception.

Their ship arrived at the Keppel Bay marina in Yeppoon at 11am on Tuesday.

The couple was taken by ambulance to Costa de Capricorn Hospital. They are in a stable condition.

Mr. Benussi was anchored in Yellow Patch (pictured) off Curtis Island when the pair drifted past.