At least three people have died following a boating tragedy off the coast of Ballina in northern New South Wales. Emergency services were alerted around 6:15pm on Monday after reports that a yacht appeared to be in distress near the South Ballina breakwall.
A Marine NSW crew responded to the scene, but their vessel capsized in the heavy conditions. Four individuals managed to reach the shore, while three others have been confirmed dead. NSW Police have stated they are unsure how many people were aboard the yacht, which is believed to have sunk.
A large-scale rescue operation is currently underway. The four injured survivors are not believed to have life-threatening injuries. Authorities continue to search for any additional missing persons.
—
