Boat capsizes near O’Sullivans Beach, south of Adelaide, with five men taken to hospital

Rescuers have detailed the frantic efforts to save five young men who have been taken to hospital after their boat capsized – two of the men are fighting for life.

Two men are in hospital fighting for their life after their boat capsized off a beach in Adelaide’s south, with rescuers detailing the group of five were not wearing life jackets.

The alarm was raised just after 11.30am on Sunday, with rescue boats and a chopper called to assist in a search near Christies Beach and O’Sullivans Beach.

SA Police said there were five men – believed to be in their 20s – on-board a five-metre boat `who were all taken to Flinders Medical Centre.

A witness said at least one person was given CPR for about 20 minutes at the scene.

Two men remained in a critical condition, while the three others were in stable conditions.

A chopper at the scene of a boat capsize south of Adelaide. Picture: Michael Marschall

One person is receiving CPR after being brought to shore. Picture: Michael Marschall

Richard Nurmi and Hughie Deroussent, from the Christie’s Beach Surf Life Saving Club, said they rushed out to help bring the men to safety after a member of the public alerted them.

“We run a winter swimming club and we’d already been in the water and were just finishing up for the day,” Mr Deroussent said.

“Then a member of the public came up, we didn’t actually see what was going on.”

The pair said they saw an upturned boat with people clinging to it – about 1km offshore, near Horseshoe Reef.

They said no one was wearing a life jacket.

“They didn’t really know how to swim,” Mr Deroussent said.

The overturned boat is brought back to shore. Picture: Tim Joy

Richard Nurmi and Hughie Deroussent from Christies Beach Surf Life Saving Club helped to save the men. Picture: Tim Joy

“I couldn’t tell how many were actually there. You could sort of see three (people) clinging to the boat.

The pair said they found four people in the water and asked them if they were missing anyone else.

The men responded “no”, but then Mr Nurmi said he noticed what looked like more clothing floating in the water.

“We took the worst one on board and as we turned, I noticed there was a jacket or something floating in the water,” Mr Nurmi said.

“We went over to look and there was a guy face down in the water.

“He was starting to sink to the bottom.

“It was pretty dramatic.”

The men, they said, were all wearing heavy clothing including track pants.

One man had multiple jackets on that was making it difficult for him to stay up, Mr Deroussent said.

“Life jackets are absolutely imperative. Even if you’re an adult, wear it because it could save your life,” he said.

Earlier this month, a Christie Downs man, 29, was pulled from the water unresponsive at O’Sullivan Beach. He could not be revived.

Originally published as Boat capsizes near O’Sullivans Beach, south of Adelaide, with five men taken to hospital