Authorities are attempting to rescue a yacht stranded off the southern Queensland after the skipper was reportedly killed in an accident this morning. A Queensland police spokeswoman said a woman onboard the 15 metre sloop sent a mayday call this morning. It's believed the skipper was struck by a boom but police have yet to confirm whether the man is dead or unconscious. The woman is highly distressed and has little knowledge of skippering. The sloop is currently stranded in poor weather conditions about 80km off the coast of Hervey Bay, near Fraser Island. The adverse weather conditions have prevented a nearby yacht from rendering assistance and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority has launched a search and rescue operation involving several helicopters. An Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman said a helicopter had reached the yacht and a paramedic was being winched down to assess the man's condition.It was hoped a second helicopter would be able to bring two police officers to the vessel to skipper it back to land.AAP