Scuba Diver Rescued After Drifting at Sea for Over 17 Hours

Credit: Alan Griffiths

A 68-year-old scuba diver was rescued off the northern Queensland coast on November 7 after he had been left adrift for over 17 hours.

The man, John Leslie Brierley, had gone solo diving the day before at the SS Yongala wreck by Russell Island, south of Townsville, ABC reported.

After he failed to return that evening, a search began, and Brierley was finally spotted the following day by rescuer Alan Griffiths, who saw his yellow oxygen tank from a rescue helicopter. Griffiths told ABC that he greeted Brierley by saying, "G'day mate, do you want a lift?"

Brierley, who was taken to hospital to recuperate, told ABC he'd forgotten to take his personal locator beacon with him on the dive, which caused the disorientation.

Acting Inspector Graeme Paterson called the rescue a lucky one, comparing it to "looking for a needle in a haystack."

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