Two people have been plucked from the hull of an overturned boat in waters off Queensland's Gold Coast overnight.

Key points: The pair clung to the hull for two to three hours

The pair clung to the hull for two to three hours The male swam under the hull to locate the EPIRB and bring it to the surface

The male swam under the hull to locate the EPIRB and bring it to the surface The boat has since washed up on South Stradbroke Island

Dramatic Polair vision shows a 42-year-old man and a 43-year-old woman clinging to the hull of the small boat at Jumpinpin Pocket off South Stradbroke Island — an area popular with anglers.

In the vision the man can be seen shielding the woman with his body as the boat sinks lower in the ocean and water laps at the edges of the hull.

A police helicopter flew to the site after the couple — from Logan, south of Brisbane — activated an EPIRB about 7:30pm on Thursday.

The pair clung to the hull for two to three hours after it overturned around 4:00pm.

Gold Coast Water Police then located the couple and pulled them onboard.

Acting Senior Sergeant Mitch Gray said a big wave had swamped the boat as the couple returned to shore from a day's fishing.

"The master of the boat could hear the EPIRB emitting a noise — which they do when they are active — and swam down under the hull, located the EPIRB, and brought it to the surface," he said.

"We were contacted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

"We deployed the Emergency Management Queensland helicopter and the Polair Two helicopter from Brisbane, in addition to the Water Police from here.

"Polair were able to locate the upturned vessel with the man and woman on top, the Water Police vessel was able to be guided to them, affected the rescue, and returned to shore safely."

Police took the couple to the Runaway Bay Marina where paramedics treated them for hypothermia and minor injuries.

Police 'driving blind' in night-time rescue

The Queensland Ambulance Service said the couple were taken to the Gold Coast University Hospital and released last night.

Acting Senior Sergeant Gray said the EPIRB saved the couple's life.

"It was a scary incident — they were shaken," he said.

He said it was a dangerous situation for everyone concerned.

"The reports from my team that they were driving blind through the bar and the Polair helicopter actually flew up ahead and directed them in and out of the bar safely around the waves," he said.

"They described it as if you closed your eyes and drove a boat — that is where we were at."

The boat has since washed up on South Stradbroke Island.

Acting Senior Sergeant Gray said the lessons out of last night's incident was for boaties to wear lifejackets — especially when crossing bars — and to know where their EPIRBs were at all times and be able to access them.