Three fishos have been rescued from a remote creek after their engine broke down

THREE fishermen have been rescued after spending a night stranded in a remote creek off the Adelaide River

Three fishos have been rescued after their boat broke down in a remote creek system off the Adelaide River PICTURE: NTPFES

THREE fishermen have been rescued after spending a night stranded in a remote creek off the Adelaide River.

The men had gone fishing in the Wilshire Creek system which runs off the Adelaide River.

The men’s 5.5m boat had broken down and when they failed to return by 3pm Tuesday friends of the overdue party started the search for them.

Once night fell the friends and the missing fishermen had not been found they called police at 9.45pm to raise the alarm.

Water Police began a search and rescue this morning at 5am.

Two officers on a police boat began a search within a specific search grid using the information given to them by the missing men’s friends.

Friends and family of the group helped in the search in a separate boat.

A Police Airwing PC-12 was tasked at 8am to help with a further two Water Police members on board to assist with an aerial search of the area.

Three fishos have been rescued after their boat broke down in a remote creek system off the Adelaide River PICTURE: NTPFES

The group was found by friends about 11am in Wilshire Creek — number two.

Police said the boat had suffered engine failure in an area where it was unlikely to have been found by other passing vessels.

Police officers found the men in good spirits with no requirement for medical attention.

Water Police Sergeant John Pini led the search and rescue mission and said good preparation from the men on board helped them in being found quickly.

“The vessel had an EPIRB on board, however the men decided that since they were not in any danger, they would not activate it,” Sgt Pini said.

“The information they had provided to friends and family before heading out early yesterday greatly assisted search efforts and enabled us to narrow down the grid in which to look for the vessel in a complex creek system.

“We always tell people to make sure someone knows where they are going and when to expect them back, so this is a great example of the importance of that message.”