Five people and a puppy were rescued by helicopter after their boat sank off the north Queensland coast on Thursday morning. The group was found in the water near Cape Bowling Green, off Ayr, after activating an emergency beacon around 6:30am.
A Queensland Government Air rescue helicopter winched three women, two men, and a blue heeler puppy named Sooky from the water. They were taken to Townsville about 7:30am, where paramedics assessed the survivors, including two 45-year-old women, a 28-year-old woman, a 50-year-old man, and a 41-year-old man.
Townsville Water Police officer in charge Matthew Pegg said the boat had filled with water, and the group was in the water for nearly an hour. They had left a larger anchored ship to travel toward Magnetic Island in the 7-metre boat.
Sergeant Pegg noted the emergency beacon likely saved their lives. The puppy, Sooky, was in good spirits and slept in the police car on the way home. All escaped injury.
