Qld: Five fishermen rescued off Mackay

AAP General News (Australia)
04-17-2001
Qld: Five fishermen rescued off Mackay

BRISBANE, April 17 AAP - Five fishermen have been rescued after their boat sank off
the Whitsunday Islands overnight.

Constable Graeme Pettigrew, of Whitsunday Water Police, said the skipper of the line
fishing vessel Hobo II sent a distress call about midnight as the boat began taking on
water near Edward Island, south-east of Airlie Beach.

A rescue helicopter based at Hamilton Island dropped a life raft to the men on the
stricken fishing vessel which sank about 4am (AEST).

A volunteer marine rescue boat then took the five men back to Mackay where they were
reported to be safe and well this morning.

AAP rad/mjm

KEYWORD: FISHING

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