Two Queensland trawler bodies identified

Police have identified two bodies found in the FV Dianne fishing trawler off the central Queensland coast.

Queensland fisherman Adam Hoffman

Adam Hoffman's body has been found inside a sunken fishing trawler. (AAP)

Skipper Ben Leahy and his mate Adam Hoffman have been remembered by their families as "beloved" and a "genuine legend" after their bodies were identified as the two recovered from the wreckage of a fishing trawler which capsized off the central Queensland coast.

Police and rescuers continue to scour the coastline near the town of 1770, hoping to find the bodies of the four remaining missing crew from the boat which sank last Monday.

Mr Leahy, 45, from Cairns, was on Monday confirmed as one of the men found in the fishing vessel's wreckage by divers on 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 the skipper's family read.

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

Queensland Police also confirmed the death of 30-year-old Mr Hoffman, releasing 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.

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to go into a trust for Evie.

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.

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

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.


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Source: AAP


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