Marine emergency crews rescue seven people near Lady Elliot Island
Marine emergency crews have rescued seven people after a surfing trip off the coast of Bundaberg hit rough seas.
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Marine emergency crews responded to a distress beacon after rough seas upturned a boat carrying seven people on a surfing trip off the coast of Bundaberg on Saturday afternoon.
The 7m boat, carrying seven people, was returning from a surfing trip to Lady Elliot Island, about 80km northeast of Bundaberg’s coastline when it sent out a distress beacon at around 5pm on Saturday.
Multiple emergency crews from RACQ CapRescue and LifeFlight, Rescue 300, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority and Bundaberg volunteer marine rescue were involved and responded to the distress beacon.
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Two rescue helicopters found the boat afloat, but upturned in the rough seas, with seven people still managing to cling to the craft, a statement from RACQ CapRescue said.
The boat was found about 65km northeast of Bundaberg and working against the fading light, rescue helicopters passed down a life raft to those clinging to the boat, a statement from AMSA said.
At 7.30pm all seven people were retrieved from the liferaft by Bundaberg’s volunteer marine rescue unit.
“All were safely taken on board the rescue vessel and returned to Bundaberg at about 10.30pm last night,” the statement said.
“They were carrying and activated their properly registered emergency beacon and were all believed to have been wearing life jackets.
“These actions significantly enhanced their survival prospects and aided with their rapid and successful rescue.”
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Originally published as Marine emergency crews rescue seven people near Lady Elliot Island
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