Five passengers stuck on a water-logged boat in the middle of the ocean were assisted safely back to land thanks to the help of local organisations.
The Bundaberg-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter was called in to help the boat, which was taking on water, off the coast of Burnett Heads yesterday.
The Queensland Police Service (QPS) tasked the aeromedical crew just before 10am.
The chopper hovered overhead while a local Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) crew made its way to the sinking fishing vessel.
The boaties managed to remove some of the water and get the boat moving again, but couldn’t stop or they would risk it sinking.
VMR travelled alongside the vessel, while the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue crew kept watch from above, both services ready to take further action, if the situation worsened.
The fishing boat made it safely to shore under VMR escort and no one was injured during the ordeal.
It’s believed a panel was missing from the back of the boat , which caused water to inundate the vessel when it was stationary.
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