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Brothers Brian Innes and Steve Innes rescued off coast near Robe

Two men who spent hours treading water after their boat capsized thought they had lost their beloved three-legged dog in the ordeal. But their incredible story had a happy ending.

Brothers’ incredible rescue from rough seas near Robe (7NEWS)

Two brothers rescued after their fishing boat capsized off the Limestone Coast tread water for seven hours before their life jackets saved them.

Brian, 76, and 74-year-old Steve Innes - with their three-legged Jack Russell Luna - had set out about 10am from Boatswain Point near Robe to check their craypots, but failed to return by the early afternoon.

The trio - with one and a half life jackets between them - were expected back on shore about 11am, the trip out to the craypots initially planned to be a quick trip.

Stephen Innes and his three-legged dog Luna were in the water for seven hours after their boat capsized off Boatswain Point on Limestone Coast, SA. Picture: 7 NEWS
Stephen Innes and his three-legged dog Luna were in the water for seven hours after their boat capsized off Boatswain Point on Limestone Coast, SA. Picture: 7 NEWS

But the alarm was raised at about 2.30pm when there was still no sign of the boat or brothers, triggering a massive air and sea search for the brothers, drawing in SES, police Water Operations Unit and PolAir.

Brian’s two little dogs, also jack russells, were beside his ute back on shore.

The pair’s boat had been hit by a freak wave, capsizing the vessel and sending them into the water where they remained afloat due to the life jackets they were wearing.

Speaking to 7NEWS, Stephen said the brothers and Luna had “one and a half” life jackets between them, but they managed to tread water for hours, awaiting rescue that ultimately came just before 6pm.

One of the life jackets didn’t inflate properly.

Luna had spent the ordeal sitting on Stephen’s chest but about 30 minutes before they were sighted by a member of the public, he was hit from behind by a large wave.

“The first one that came up that was white water what his us, washed her off me,” he told 7NEWS.

A search area for two fishermen who were missing off the coast of Boatswain Point near Robe. Picture: adsbexchange.com
A search area for two fishermen who were missing off the coast of Boatswain Point near Robe. Picture: adsbexchange.com

“And of course I went under water and gagged and carried on and she was gone.

“I didn’t know where - I couldn’t see her.”

Stephen and Brian were pulled into another man’s boat and taken to shore - and was reunited with Luna who was waiting on the beach.

“She was on shore waiting for us.”

The extensive search included local fisherman and boat users in the area, with a member of the public spotting the reflection from the life jackets about 200m from shore.

The public boatie rescued the pair and ferried them back to shore, landing on the beach at Guichen Bay.

Two brothers have been rescued after their boat capsized near Robe. Picture: Jacqui Bateman
Two brothers have been rescued after their boat capsized near Robe. Picture: Jacqui Bateman
The pair’s boat was hit by a freak wave, capsizing the vessel. Picture: Jacqui Bateman
The pair’s boat was hit by a freak wave, capsizing the vessel. Picture: Jacqui Bateman

The brothers had spent about seven hours in the water after their boat sank.

The Advertiser understands the brothers suffered the effects of exposure but were not otherwise injured.

They were taken to hospital for assessment but were discharged within a few hours.

Offshore temperatures around Robe climbed to 30 degrees in the mid-afternoon.

Today’s forecast for the area the men were fishing in on Tuesday suggest 2m swells in the morning, building to up to 3m from 2pm into the early evening.

Brian is a registered recreational rock lobster fisherman.

The coastal area where the men set out from is known for its at-times rough seas, but its reefs make it attractive for recreational fishermen.

In 2016, three people went missing in their 7m Quintrex boat off the coast of Cape Jaffa.

Despite debris and pieces of the boat being found during the massive 3000 square nautical mile search, the trio was never found.

An inquest in 2022 later ruled it was likely the three members of the Vandepeer family fell victim to a deadly boating mishap.

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Original URL: https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/brothers-brian-innes-and-steve-innes-rescued-off-coast-near-robe/news-story/ec8e095d7363a851ce836175f8fefcea