Five people and a puppy were rescued off the coast of Ayr, Queensland, on Thursday morning after their inflatable boat began sinking. The emergency was reported around 6:30 am when a marine beacon was activated near Cape Bowling Green.
Queensland Government Air (QGAir) Rescue 521 located a seven-metre rigid inflatable boat (RIB) in distress. The vessel, a tender for a 120-foot superyacht, was taking on water about 30 nautical miles offshore.
Five individuals—two women aged 45, a 28-year-old woman, a 50-year-old man, and a 41-year-old man—along with a blue heeler puppy named Sooky, were clinging to the RIB as it began to sink. The superyacht remained out of swimming distance.
All six were winched to safety by helicopter around 7:30 am and flown to Townsville, where they were assessed to be in good health. Authorities are investigating the cause of the sinking.
