Sinking vessel located in the darkness

Just after 3.30am this morning BMA CQ Rescue received a call for help. There was a boat in distress in the Whitsundays.

Initial reports were that the boat was sinking, so time was of the essence.

An EPIRB had been set off to alert authorities to the emergency and location of the vessel that had 2 passengers on board.

The night was particularly dark with little light offered from the moon and stars, making it difficult to see the pair.

The BMA CQ Rescue crew was in the sky, searching around the southern end of Calder Island where they were able to locate the vessel and the people on board hidden in an inlet where the boat had come aground.

The search light was used to light up the area so that Marine Rescue Queensland Mackay, who were also enroute, were able to see the shallows and ensure they were able to get to the people safely.

The Search and Rescue mission ended well, with all passengers accounted for and uninjured.

Pilot “Leigh Wilkinson said, “It was a particularly dark night and those conditions made locating the people difficult as the vessel had wedged in a small inlet up against a vertical rock ledge”.

After hours in the sky, the crew returned to base just as the sun rose and were treated to a beautiful autumn sunrise.