Builder fined $740k for cubby house shipwrecked for days

Gold Coast builder Keith Richardson spent five days marooned on Mosquito Island after his boat ran aground. Source: Keith Richardson A builder, who went viral after council threatened him with a $740,000 fine over his kids’ cubby house, has just survived days shipwrecked on a deserted island. A wild series of unusual circumstances made the 32-year mariner “look like a rookie”, builder Keith Richardson told The Courier-Mail – sparked by engine failure during king tides in a notoriously temperamental stretch of water. High and dry on Monday after king tides, engine failure and bad weather. Source: Keith Richardson MORE: Major banks shock double rate hikes ahead of RBA Days left to act: Aus braces for panic The 52-year-old thought he was just taking his newest toy, a 22-year-old Mustang, out for a routine test run on Sunday afternoon “after having lots ($16,000 worth) of mechanical work completed” when disaster struck. A sudden engine breakdown near Jumpinpin Bar triggered five days of living rough he can barely believe happened given his 32 years of experience on the water. “The motor had stalled and wouldn’t start again when I was at Jumpinpin Bar,” said Mr Richardson who is the man...