Rescuers locate pair clinging to hull of overturned boat
RACQ CQ Rescue located two people clinging to the hull of their overturned boat north of Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia.
RACQ CQ Rescue located two people clinging to the hull of their overturned boat north of Airlie Beach, Queensland, Australia, on 16 September.
The Mackay-based rescue helicopter was tasked by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) just after 15:00 hrs after an EPIRB was activated near Gloucester Island, 146 km (91 miles) north of Mackay.
RACQ CQ Rescue arrived at the scene where the beacon had been activated at around 15:40 hrs to find two people clinging to the hull of an upturned six-metre (20-ft) vessel.
An RACQ CQ Rescue crewman said the two occupants were not hurt, although they had been in the water for more than an hour.
The rescue helicopter dropped a smoke flare close to the overturned boat’s location and radioed the Queensland Water Police boat who were en route from Bowen. The helicopter crew decided the safest option was to provide close watch overhead until the water police vessel arrived on scene to retrieve the ‘boaties’ from the water at 16:00 hrs and transfer them back to the main land.
An RACQ CQ Rescue crewman praised the pair for having the good sense to have an EPIRB onboard and to activate it immediately when they ran into trouble on the water: “Fortunately, because they had an EPIRB onboard and activated it promptly, we were able to locate them very quickly. If they didn’t, the reality is they would have endured a very long, cold and dark wait in the water for help to arrive.”
RACQ CQ Rescue returned to base at Mackay Airport at around 16:45 hrs.