‘Heroes’ hailed as investigation into triple fatal rescue launched

Divers will search for the wreckage of a yacht off the NSW north coast later this week, when the dangerous waters that saw three people killed during a rescue attempt last night have calmed.

A member of the public called emergency services about 6.15pm yesterday to report a yacht having difficulties off the South Ballina break wall.

Police said Marine Rescue NSW crew responded, but their rescue boat rolled while crossing the Ballina bar in “heavy conditions”.

Three people have been killed in a tragic attempted marine rescue off the Ballina coast. (9News)
The rescue vessel that capsized. (9News)

Three men were killed in the disaster, with police now confirming further details.

The body of a man aged in his 50s was found on the sand nearby. He is yet to be formally identified.

Of the six Marine Rescue crew members involved in the accident, two were killed.
The body of one crew member, aged 78, was recovered by the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter, while a second, aged 62, was found on the sand.

Three people have died after rescuers responded to a yacht in trouble at South Ballina. (Natalie Grono)

Marine Area Command’s Superintendent Joe McNulty said the rescuers had faced “severe conditions” including 2.5-metre swell as they travelled downriver toward the ocean.

At the Ballina bar, a wave of similar height proved too difficult to navigate, and the boat foundered and capsized.

Of the six men on board, McNulty said, some were trapped beneath the boat’s hull, and some were thrown from the vessel entirely.

He confirmed the two rescuers killed in the tragedy were from the Ballina area.

“These men are heroes. They volunteer their lives to save others,” McNulty said.

Emergency personnel scour the beach. (9News)

Four other crew members, aged 55, 75, and two aged 61, reached the shore and were treated by paramedics before three were taken to hospital.

NSW Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Brent Armitage said they had suffered minor bumps, bruises, abrasions, and fractures, but were expected to make a full recovery.

McNulty said an investigation would be launched into the accident.

Officers at the time of the incident did not know how many people had been aboard the yacht, and launched a coordinated search with the help of paramedics, the SES, the Westpac chopper, and the AMSA Challenger jet.

A Westpac Rescue Helicopter on the ground in Ballina. (Nine / Supplied)

That search was paused overnight due to dangerous weather, before resuming this morning.

The search has since been suspended after police said inquiries indicated that no other people were on board the yacht at the time.

McNulty also confirmed police had received no distress call from the yacht itself and no flares had been seen.

The body of the man in his 50s was not wearing a lifejacket at the time of recovery.

McNulty said police divers would likely enter the water Thursday when the seas were safe enough to do so, in order to gather evidence from the yacht’s wreckage.

McNulty said the yacht, which he believed was NSW-registered, had crashed into the break wall and broken apart.
Source: https://www.9news.com.au/national/ballina-boating-accident-three-dead-search-under-way-after-northern-nsw-boating-tragedy/974d7967-1138-4fdb-8b99-f8bc374c4a43

Bodies identified after boat rescue leaves three dead off Ballina

Tragedy struck when emergency services were called to help a yacht crew in distress.

A search operation has been suspended after a boating tragedy off northern NSW left three people dead.

Emergency services were called to waters off the Ballina breakwall about 6.15pm on Monday, after reports a yacht was experiencing difficulty off the South Ballina breakwall amid dangerous conditions.

A Marine Rescue vessel was launched to assist, but the rescue boat later flipped as it was crossing the channel through the mouth of the river, with a swell of up to five metres reported by locals.

A joint operation involving air rescue, SES, and NSW Ambulance was launched, with crews working in darkness and heavy spray.

Four crew members made it to shore and were treated by NSW Ambulance paramedics before being taken to hospital for further treatment.

Three others died in the incident.

NSW Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib, confirmed two of those who died were Marine Rescue NSW volunteers, along with the mariner on board the yacht.

“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we mourn the loss of two brave Marine Rescue NSW crew members who have died in a tragic incident at Ballina,” he said.

“Our emergency services are the first to rush to the rescue of people in danger, and last night two of our courageous volunteers made the ultimate sacrifice.”

Police said the body of a man, believed to be aged in his 50s, was found on the sand near the scene. He is yet to be formally identified.

The body of a 78-year-old Marine Rescue crew member was recovered by the Westpac Lifesaver Helicopter, while a second crew member, aged 62, was located on the sand.

Four further crew members, aged 55, 75, and two aged 61, survived and were taken to hospital.

Authorities have now confirmed no one else was on board the yacht, which has since sunk.

Conditions at the river entrance off Ballina are widely regarded as hazardous, particularly in rough seas