The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue chopper flew to the aid of three people after the catamaran they were travelling on, started taking on water and sinking, in waters north of Bundaberg.
The Bundaberg-based aircraft was tasked by the Queensland Police Service (QPS) at 2.30pm (Thurs 10th), after the stranded boaties made a mayday call, on their way back from Lady Musgrave Island.
The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue pilot flew to the coordinates given by the people in trouble and located the vessel with its stern already underwater.
The trio had already safely disembarked onto a tender boat.
“They had a handheld radio in the tender,” said RACQ LifeFlight Training and Checking Aircrew Officer Chris Jowsey.
“We talked to them and they told us they had no injuries or immediate risk to life, so we decided not to winch, because we were able to contact a nearby vessel to come to their aid.”
“They were very well prepared and did everything right by having EPIRBs, life jackets, and getting into the tender.”
The helicopter hovered overhead until the tourist boat arrived at the scene and took them aboard.
