All at sea: private island in Whitsundays deserted by prospective buyer

A week out from settling sale, businessman who had signed contract and paid $5,000 deposit is nowhere to be found

• Follow our Australia news live blog for the latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

A week out from settling the sale of a private island in the Whitsundays' pristine waters, the buyer has disappeared.

It is not the plot of a murder mystery novel, but a real quandary faced by the directors of Private Islands Online Australia, Richard and Norelle Vanhoff, who have had to put Poole Island back on the market.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup