Skipper Ben Leahy family speak Queensland trawler capsize

The family of skipper Ben Leahy, 45, has taken solace that he ‘died doing what he loved’ after he was identified as the second victim of a tragic capsizing accident.

Queensland Police confirmed on Monday afternoon Mr Leahy, from Cairns, was one of the men located in the fishing vessel’s wreckage by divers at the weekend.

‘While his death is an immeasurable loss to us, we do feel so blessed to have had him in our lives,’ a statement from his family read. 

 

‘While his death is an immeasurable loss to us, we do feel so blessed to have had him in our lives,’ a statement from Ben Leahy’s (pictured) family said 

The family of skipper Ben Leahy, 45, (pictured) has taken solace that he 'died doing what he loved' after he was identified as the second victim of a tragic capsizing accident 

The family of skipper Ben Leahy, 45, (pictured) has taken solace that he ‘died doing what he loved’ after he was identified as the second victim of a tragic capsizing accident 

‘Our beloved Ben is gone from our lives but forever in our hearts.’ 

The men’s cucumber trawler was travelling north from Bundaberg, Queensland, when it capsized near Middle Island off the coast of 1770 on Monday night.   

Authorities also confirmed the death of 30-year-old Adam Hoffman on Monday and released a statement from his family, who said their hearts were broken.

‘He was one in a million with a heart of gold,’ they said.

‘He will forever be our beautiful pirate who went out doing what he loved.’

Mr Hoffman’s family described him as fearless, courageous and a ‘genuine legend’. 

‘To his family he was our cherished brother who was kind, thoughtful, loving and would always tell it like it is,’ they said.

Mr Hoffman leaves behind his five-year-old daughter Evie, his parents and five sisters.

Authorities also confirmed the death of 30-year-old Adam Hoffman (pictured) on Monday and released a statement from his family, who said their hearts were broken 

Mr Hoffman leaves behind his five-year-old daughter Evie, his parents and five sisters

Authorities also confirmed the death of 30-year-old Adam Hoffman (pictured) on Monday and released a statement from his family, who said their hearts were broken 

Two bodies have been found in the sunken fishing trawler which capsized off the coast of Queensland (pictured)

Two bodies have been found in the sunken fishing trawler which capsized off the coast of Queensland (pictured)

(Clockwise from top left): Adam Hoffman, 30, Zach Feeney, 28, Eli Tonks, 39,  Adam Bidner, 33, skipper Ben Leahy, 45 and Chris Sammut, 34

(Clockwise from top left): Adam Hoffman, 30, Zach Feeney, 28, Eli Tonks, 39, Adam Bidner, 33, skipper Ben Leahy, 45 and Chris Sammut, 34

No other bodies were found inside during another extensive search of the vessel on Sunday (Pictured is Eli Tonks)

No other bodies were found inside during another extensive search of the vessel on Sunday (Pictured is Eli Tonks)

Eli Tonks is  still missing after his commercial fishing boat overturned in Bustard Bay, near Middle Island in Queensland on Monday

Eli Tonks is still missing after his commercial fishing boat overturned in Bustard Bay, near Middle Island in Queensland on Monday

The family said they had set up a GoFundMe page that would go into a trust for Evie.

Police and rescuers are continuing to scour the coastline near the central Queensland town of 1770, hoping to return the bodies of the four missing crew to their grieving families.

Divers found the bodies of the two men in the capsized trawler’s wreckage on Saturday.

No other bodies were found inside during another extensive search of the vessel on Sunday.

A recovery operation was launched Saturday morning, with water police remaining at the scene overnight (Pictured is Chris Sammut who is among the missing)

A recovery operation was launched Saturday morning, with water police remaining at the scene overnight (Pictured is Chris Sammut who is among the missing)

The crew had been on a trip to collect sea cucumbers or 'slugs', with the weather preceding the incident believed to be 'terrible' (Pictured is missing man Adam Bidner)

The crew had been on a trip to collect sea cucumbers or ‘slugs’, with the weather preceding the incident believed to be ‘terrible’ (Pictured is missing man Adam Bidner)

Crew members Eli Tonks, 39, Adam Bidner, 33, Chris Sammut, 34, and Zach Feeney, 28, (pictured) are also believed to have died in the incident

Crew members Eli Tonks, 39, Adam Bidner, 33, Chris Sammut, 34, and Zach Feeney, 28, (pictured) are also believed to have died in the incident

Crew members Eli Tonks, 39, Adam Bidner, 33, Chris Sammut, 34, and Zach Feeney, 28, also died in the incident.

Ruben McDornan was the only crew member to survive after the trawler capsized during treacherous conditions on the night of October 16.

Members of the local community have started a flower memorial for the men at 1770’s Round Hill Headland, overlooking the water.  

Ruben McDornan, 32, (pictured) is believed to be the sole survivor with the trawler, the 'Diane', discovered on Friday after an extensive search

Ruben McDornan, 32, (pictured) is believed to be the sole survivor with the trawler, the ‘Diane’, discovered on Friday after an extensive search

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