Boy, 7, in coma and dad in hospital after six hours stranded when their fishing boat sank miles out to sea

A SEVEN-year-old boy has been put in a coma and is fighting for his life after the boat he was in with his dad sank.

Julian Hohnen and his dad Maike, 39, were off the Queensland coast on a weekend fishing trip with a friend Stephen Jeacocke, 48, and were left stranded in the sea for six hours.

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Rescue services raced to the scene after they received a distress call just after 1.30am this morning from the 5.2 metre fishing boat which was nearly nine miles out to sea.

They were spotted in the water by a tanker which was anchored off-shore and all three were rescued just before 8am.

The two men are believed to have taken turns in holding Julian above the water while they searched for something they could cling on to, to keep them afloat.

They are thought not to have been wearing lifejackets.

The boy was taken by helicopter to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital in a critical condition, reports who identified those involved.

He is currently in a medically-induced coma.

Doctors at the hospital have reportedly discussed flying the boy to Brisbane for further treatment.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Kristy MacAlister said: “It is very lucky that all three were found alive this morning.

IN A COMA

“He was suffering from hypothermia because he had been in the water for quite some time.

“It is always a delicate operation when you’re winching a patient that’s potentially suffering from hypothermia because, as you winch them out of the water, the wind temperature can also decrease the body temperature further.”

The two men were taken back to shore by marine rescue and are also in hospital suffering from hypothermia.

Ian Hunt from Rotary Rescue told : “[When] you have kids of your own, you always feel for the situation, so it's really gratifying to know that they were found and that we played some part in finding them.”

In total nine boats contributed to the six-hour search for the missing people.

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Coastguard Caloundra volunteer deputy commander Kevin Wager told the : “The three hadn't drifted very far we think, but it is quite difficult to pick people up in the water, the conditions were really choppy.”

He added: “The water temperature was about 21C, so not freezing but it would not have been good for a child. Thankfully it had a good outcome.”

The boat is yet to be recovered.

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