A 5.8-metre recreational fishing vessel placed a mayday call via VHF Radio to Portland Coast Guard at 1450hrs Monday afternoon to say their vessel was sinking.
Shortly after they activated their EPIRB on board. Portland Coast Guard was en route to the scene by 1500hrs. The vessel was located 38 nautical miles off the coast towards Cape Nelson.
Portland Coast Guard arrived on scene and confirmed there were six people on board. The vessel appeared to have been swamped by a wave but was no longer taking on water.
A fixed wing search-and-rescue aircraft along with Heli-Med 4 were also dispatched to the scene.
One man was airlifted off the vessel by Heli-Med 4 to be treated for shock. The other five people were moved to the Coast Guard vessel as their boat was put under tow by Portland Coast Guard back to Portland. The vessel arrived back at port mid-evening.
Commercial container vessel Kota Lukis returned to her original heading to Adelaide after diverting her course in response to the mayday call.
Activating the EPIRB provided the Coast Guard with precise co-ordinates of the vessel, allowing crews to respond quickly and accurately in an emergency situation.
For further media enquiries please contact the Duty Media Officer Jeremy West on 0438 011 814.
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Author: Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Assoc.