Qld man 'abused' marine rescue volunteers

A Queensland man allegedly hampered a search and rescue operation when he used the emergency VHF radio channel to repeatedly abuse volunteers.

Water police allege the 41-year-old from Manly spent several hours on January 2 broadcasting vulgar and offensive language and insults targeting marine rescue volunteers who were responding to a genuine mayday call in waters off Brisbane.

The man will face court at a later date after being charged with unlicensed operation of a radio-communication and recklessly causing interference with radio-communications, with water police saying it was fortunate nobody was injured because of his actions.