A dramatic early morning rescue operation unfolded off the North Queensland coast on Thursday after a boat carrying five people and a puppy began to sink.
Mayday Call Triggers Swift Response
The alarm was raised at approximately 6.30am on Thursday when an emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) was activated. The distress signal originated from waters near Cape Bowling Green, off the coast of Ayr, roughly 30 nautical miles offshore.
Queensland's dedicated aerial rescue service, QGAir, immediately scrambled its Rescue 521 helicopter to the scene. The crew successfully located the vessel in trouble—a seven-metre tender that was taking on water.
Dramatic Winch to Safety
On board the sinking boat were two 45-year-old women, a 28-year-old woman, a 50-year-old man, a 41-year-old man, and their beloved blue heeler puppy, named Sooky. The group managed to hold on as their boat foundered, awaiting the arrival of their rescuers.
By about 7.30am, the QGAir crew had performed a delicate winching operation, hoisting all five adults and the puppy from the stricken vessel to the safety of the helicopter.
"All six were flown back to Townsville and assessed to be in good health," a statement confirmed. Remarkably, no one required hospital treatment following the ordeal.
Investigation into Cause Underway
While the occupants are safe, questions remain about what caused the vessel to start sinking. Authorities have stated that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
This successful rescue highlights the critical importance of carrying and activating a registered EPIRB when in distress at sea. The swift response by QGAir ensured a potentially tragic situation had a happy ending for all involved, including the four-legged survivor, Sooky.
