Mystery solved of 'Mary Celeste' yacht where crew disappeared leaving engine running

The yacht was found floating 160km east of Townsville, Australia with food on the table. No crew were ever found

Despite a massive search operation, no trace of the men was ever found, sparking comparisons to the legend of the ghost ship Mary Celeste.

Coroner Michael Barnes  found the deaths were caused by a freak accident.

He said one of the Tunstead brothers had attempted to free a fishing line from the yacht's propeller and fell in the ocean. The other brother fell in trying to rescue him.

Mr Batten was knocked over by the sail trying to get to the other two men.

Once in the water, it would have been impossible for the three men to get back to the yacht, Mr Barnes told the court.

The inquest, which started in Townsville, Queensland, on Monday, had heard the crew were likely already dead by the time a search was launched.

Queensland police ruled out the possibility the men staged their disappearance or met with foul play.

The yacht was found drifting about 88 nautical miles from Townsville on April 18 last year.

The first person to board the yacht a day later, Emergency Management Queensland crewman Corrie Benson, told the inquest he found it unoccupied.

But the engine was still running, all three beds appeared to have been slept in and there were belongings on the table including a Sunday newspaper, a camera, some reading glasses and life jackets.

Police launched a massive search operation involving up to 10 aircraft but found no sign of the three men.