Hopes are fading for a young Mount Isa father missing from a livestock vessel which hit rough weather in the East China Sea.
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Lukas Orda, 25, is one of two Australians missing from the Gulf Livestock 1, which capsized on Wednesday with 43 crew and almost 6000 head of cattle on board.
The missing man's father Ulrich is a director of accident and emergency at the Mount Isa Hospital and his mother Sabine works there also.
The couple is now in Townsville with Mr Orda's sister Kathrin, who is studying there.
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Mr Orda moved with his family from Germany to Mount Isa when he was a teen and attended Good Shepherd Catholic College.
He went on to study veterinary science at James Cook University in Townsville and he completed his studies in 2016.
Mount Isa parish priest Father Mick Lowcock said the family is highly regarded in the community.
"They came to Mount Isa from Germany when he started high school, he completed year 12 here and went to JCU," Fr Lowcock said.
"He came back and did work experience on properties around the place.
"They are very well known."
Fr Lowcock said he had spoken with the family last night, who were in Townsville with Mr Orda's sister Kathrin, who is studying medicine at JCU.
"They are obviously very sad, the parents came out here to give the children good opportunities in Australia.
"He was always an outgoing child, he would come up and say G'day."
Fr Lowcock said the last interaction he had with Mr Orda was just before he left for Napier, bound for China, when he posted on social media congratulating the priest on a recent award.
"That's the type of person he was."
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this time," a JCU spokesman said.
