Australian Maritime Safety Authority reveals details on rescue north of Townsville
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Three people were rescued by a passing boat after spending seven hours in the dark in shark infested waters off Townsville when their boat capsized 14 nautical miles from shore.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said the crew’s Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) was detected 80km north of Townsville.
The crew of a passing boat were stunned to see three people floating in the water off Lucinda, north of Townsville near Hinchinbrook Island around 7am.
It is understood their boat capsized around midnight.
The EPIRB originated from the 7.5m steel recreational vessel, Kaluga Q, which had three people on board.
AMSA tasked its Cairns-based Challenger rescue aircraft to assist with the search, and was assisted by local charter fishing vessel, Tura, and Townsville Volunteer Marine Rescue.
“At about 8.30pm, the Tura and Marine Rescue located the Kaluga Q, transferred the three people on board Townsville VMR and towed the vessel back to shore,” AMSA said.
The trio, a 55-year-old man and two women aged 51, were rescued and taken to the Dungeness boat ramp.
There they were met by the Queensland Ambulance Service, with paramedics taking the trio to hospital all suffering from mild hypothermia. A QAS spokesman said the three people were “exceptionally lucky” having survived a night in the ocean before being spotted by the private vessel.
“All those rescued are reported to be safely ashore and were taken to Townsville. AMSA thanks the crew of the charter vessel Tora and Townsville Volunteer Marine rescue for their invaluable assistance with this successful rescue,” AMSA said.
“(It’s) a very timely reminder of the importance of always carrying a properly registered EPIRB on board at all times.”
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Originally published as Australian Maritime Safety Authority reveals details on rescue north of Townsville
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