Yachtie rescued after falling overboard off the coast of Nhulunbuy, spending 15 hours in the water

A MAN has been rescued overnight and is ‘thanking his lucky stars’ after falling overboard from his yacht off the coast of Nhulunbuy and spending about 15-hours in the water

NT Police are leading a search and rescue operation underway to retrieve a man who fell off his yacht off the coast of Nhulunbuy. Picture: Judith Aisthorpe

UPDATE: A man has been rescued after spending about 15-hours in the water after falling off his boat in Nhulunbuy on Monday.

St John Ambulance Territory Duty Manager Craig Garraway said the man was recovering and in a stable condition.

“He’s recovering well in Nhulunbuy hospital at the moment, he’s probably thanking his lucky stars and buying a tattslotto ticket,” he said.

“He’s been quite unwell over the day ... he’s obviously quite exhausted and dehydrated.”

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EARLIER: A search and rescue operation is underway to retrieve a man who fell off his yacht off the coast of Nhulunbuy.

Police search co-ordinators said the man was found floating in the ocean at 2pm, about 100km north of Nhulunbuy, after an EPIRB was activated.

It’s understood the man fell off his yacht while completing repairs.

The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Canberra initiated the search using a Challenger jet from Cairns.

When the man was found, a life raft complete with rations was dropped down to him.

Police from Nhulunbuy were sent out to collect the man and found him at 4.30pm.

The party is on their way back to Nhulunbuy.

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It is not known what condition the man is in.

Follow @JudithAisthorpe