Ana James (right) said she was holding on to hope her fiance Eli Tonks (left) has escaped his sunken fishing trawler and was ‘on one of the islands with a coconut in hand’
The fiancee of a fisherman now feared dead after a trawler sank off the coast of Queensland on Monday night says she has not given up hope.
In an emotional tribute to her missing love Eli Tonks, a father-of-two, Canadian woman Ana James said she was holding onto the idea the 39-year-old had found safety.
‘Eli is so full of love, compassion and emotion and is one of the strongest, most kind-hearted people,’ Ms James told the ABC on Thursday.
‘He’s a machine. Friends and family know he would not give up without a fight.
‘Most of us continue to hold on to hope that he’s kicked back on one of the islands with a coconut in hand — because that’s the kind of guy he is, fearless and capable of anything.’
The sea cucumber diver travelled the world with Ms James before they were engaged in a romantic proposal in December last year.
The couple’s social media accounts document the strong bond they share, posting smitten photos from exotic destinations including Peru, Brazil, Bolivia and Thailand.
Ms James described Mr Tonks, a 39-year-old father of two, as ‘one of the strongest, most kind-hearted people’
Mr Tonks is one of six men missing after a fishing trawler capsized and sank near the Town of 1770 off the coast of Queensland on Monday night
Mr Tonks travelled the world with his Canadian partner Ana James (pictured) before they were engaged in a romantic proposal in December last year
Tragically, Mr Tonks and five of his closest friends remain missing more than three days after their trawler capsized into rough seas near the Queensland Town of 1770 on Monday night.
As of Thursday night, the trawler and the men are still missing, with the search and rescue mission turning into a search and recovery mission – meaning authorities were no longer expecting to find the men alive.
Inspector Darren Somerville on Thursday said there was still a small glimmer of hope, but that it would be a ‘miracle’ to discover the men had survived their ordeal.
‘We’re still hopeful that there would be some sort of miracle,’ he said.
More than three days after their trawler sank, the six men and the vessel remain missing, with poor weather conditions hampering the search
Ms James told reporters on Thursday she was hoping Mr Tonks had overcome the odds and made it out alive, describing her sweetheart as ‘fearless and capable of anything’
‘But it would be that now — it would be a miracle if we were to find someone alive.
‘At this stage we’re progressing towards a recovery operation.’
Police have called in for sonar detectors to help locate the vessel, and specialist divers were believed to be en route from New South Wales on Wednesday.
Strong winds and high seas have so far severely hampered any search efforts, with helicopters being pulled back and visibility too low to effectively find the group.
On Friday, the weather is expected to clear enough to deploy the hi-tech sonar equipment expected to finally locate the missing trawler.
The families of Mr Tonks, Ben Leahy, Adam Hoffman, Adam Bidner, Zach Feeney and Chris Sammut, have been briefed to expect the worst.
The six missing men were believed to be below deck when the trawler, Dianne (pictured), capsized about 7.30pm on Monday night, before finally sinking about midnight
The families of Mr Tonks (top right), Ben Leahy (bottom centre), Adam Hoffman (top left), Adam Bidner (bottom right), Zach Feeney (top centre) and Chris Sammut (bottom left), were told to expect the worst on Wednesday night
Only one man has emerged out of the ordeal so far.
Ruben McDornan, 32, was above deck, and clutched to the hull of the sinking boat until midnight, when the trawler finally sank, covered by waves reaching up to three metres.
He tread water in rough seas through the night, until a passing yacht picked him up about 7am on Tuesday.
Mr McDornan reportedly told his rescuers he had heard kicking and screaming from inside the boat as his friends, believed to be below deck, struggled to escape.
Only Ruben McDornan (pictured) has so far emerged from the ordeal alive. He was picked up by a passing yacht about 7am on Tuesday morning
His wife Sammy has expressed her relief at Mr McDornan’s miraculous survival, but held back tears as she explained the close relationship her husband shares with the men still believed to be trapped on board.
Wetsuits, diving equipment and personal items have so far been found washed ashore throughout the search, as authorities scour the debris for a sign of survival.
Search and Rescue coordinator Jeff Barnett said on Wednesday afternoon time was running out to find the young fishermen alive.
‘The best case scenario is we find six people in a life raft. That’s what we’re aiming for at the moment. But it’s not looking real promising,’ he said.
‘On advice from our medical team, they tell us towards the end of Wednesday afternoon the chances of survival unsupported is negligible.’
The search continues.
Strong winds and heavy seas have so far hampered search and rescue efforts with helicopters (pictured) having to return to land multiple times during the operation
On Friday, weather is expected to clear enough to begin searching with hi-tech sonar equipment