Four friends winched to safety after a night in the ocean off north Queensland are bruised, tired and very glad to be home.

July 16, 2017

Four men who spent a blustery night sheltering in a dinghy in waters off remote north Queensland after it struck a reef and overturned were about to give up when they spotted an approaching rescue helicopter.

“They’re all in shock and hungry and just glad to be home,” Talika, the partner of one of the men, told AAP.

“They were about to give up and then they saw the chopper.”

Jordan has cuts and bruises and he’s very tired, Talika said, while one of the other men suffered a concussion in the accident.

The group of friends from Wujal Wujal Aboriginal community were on a day long fishing trip off Cooktown yesterday when their 4.2 metre dinghy struck Cairns Reef, 15 kilometres to the south, and overturned. 

The group managed to turn the dinghy back over and spent the night clinging to it for safety.

It happened as soon as they got out there, but we didn’t start worrying until 7pm, Talika said.

The families raised the alarm at 8pm on Saturday night when the men failed to return home and windy conditions set in.

Wujal Wujal Aboriginal Shire Council chief executive officer Eileen Deemal-Hall said the small tight knit community had spent a sleepless night worried about four of their favourite sons.

“It’s a miracle they survived,” she said

“It got to 25 and 30 knot winds.”

Ms Deemal-Hall said all four men were young fathers and leaders in the community.

“We’re just happy that it’s over and they’re home,” Talika said.

“I don’t think Jordan will be fishing anytime soon, at least not from a dinghy.”

A rescue helicopter found the group early on Sunday, police said.

The men were airlifted to the Cooktown Hospital for assessment but have been released.