THE family of a former Whitsundays woman lost at sea say their questions remain unanswered despite a brief encounter with her long-time boyfriend in Airlie Beach.
The brief exchange at a Hungry Jack's was the first time Carmel Brookes's family had been able to speak face-to-face with Dr Gerry Goeden since the disappearance.
Carmel was sailing with her partner, Dr Goeden, from Langkawi, Malaysia, to Phuket, Thailand, on February 2, when she was reported as having fallen overboard.
Dr Goeden, a marine biologist, said Carmel fell overboard while she was on watch at night and he was asleep below.
Carmel's family's story was reported in the Daily Mercury earlier this year and they recently contacted channel Seven's Sunday Night program in an effort to increase the profile of the case.
Her stepdaughter Lisa Marie Brookes said the family contacted Sunday Night after Dr Goeden showed up in the Whitsundays recently.
The family was notified of his appearance by one of Carmel's friends, who saw Mr Goeden walking in Airlie Beach.
"We found him in Hungry Jack's with a cap and glasses on in the corner," Ms Brookes said.
"Obviously he never knew we were showing up.
"He never told anyone he was coming."
During the airing of the show on Sunday the program reported Dr Goeden had a previous relationship, which ended when his then wife died after falling from a waterfall.
Ms Brookes said she felt the program had helped increase the profile of the case.
"We didn't want to just let it rest overseas," she said.