Polair, Westpac Helicopter rescue three men off NSW coastline

Three men are safe after a “freak wave” led to a dramatic rescue off the NSW coast on Wednesday morning.

Three men have been winched to safety in dramatic scenes after a freak wave caused their boat to capsize off the NSW coast on Wednesday morning.

The three men were fishing off the Royal National Park, south of Sydney, near Wedding Cake Rock, when the wave overturned their boat shortly before 9am.

One of the men was winched to safety by PolAir, while the other two were rescued by the Westpac rescue helicopter.

Three men were dramatically winched to safety after their boat capsized. Picture: Westpac Lifesaver Rescue Helicopters / Twitter.

NSW Police told NCA NewsWire the men returned to the shore at Wattamolla Beach before they were taken to Sutherland Hospital for observation.

NSW Ambulance Inspector Andrew Bibby said the men had been in the water about an hour before they spotted a bushwalker and called for help.

“We believe the men had been fishing when a freak wave caused their boat to overturn,” Mr Bibby said.

“They’d been in the water for around an hour before they were spotted by a bushwalker who called for help,” he said.

#RESCUE Westpac Lifesaver 21 has rescued 2 males from an overturned boat near #WeddingCakeRock, with @nswpolice POLAIR rescuing a third. #lifesaverhelopic.twitter.com/oHhaFwVWrg

— Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters (@Lifesaverhelo) January 11, 2023

“Three helicopters were called in to assist, including the Toll ambulance rescue helicopter, the Westpac lifesaver helicopter and PolAir.”

Mr Bibby said the men were assessed by NSW paramedics after being winched for safety and were treated for suspected hypothermia and water inhalation.

“Thankfully, they were wearing life jackets, which prevented a much more serious situation,” he said.

A South Eastern Sydney Local Health District spokesperson said the men were discharged from hospital on Wednesday.