Sunken trawler found, six presumed dead

Authorities will attempt to recover a fishing vessel that capsized and sank off the Queensland coast with six crewmen on board.

Skipper Ben Leahy (45) and crew members Adam Hoffman (30), Eli Tonks (39), Adam Bidner (33), Chris Sammut (34), and Zach Feeney (28) are presumed dead after their boat the Dianne capsized and sank in treacherous conditions near the town of 1770 on Monday night.

Ruben McDornan is the sole known survivor.

Queensland Police used sonar equipment to locate the vessel about two to three nautical miles off Round Hill Headland on Friday afternoon.

Water Police remained at the scene overnight ahead of a full recovery operation that will get under way on Saturday morning.

Families of the missing men on Friday chartered two vessels to join authorities in their efforts to locate the men's bodies.

Four sailors have meanwhile revealed how they came to the rescue of Mr McDornan.

Exhausted, injured and wearing only a pair of boardshorts, Mr McDornan spent hours treading water after the vessel sank to the sea floor.

He was reunited with his wife and mum in Gladstone on Thursday.

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