AN EPIRB and flares set off by three men helped emergency services locate a boat that hit a reef off Two Rocks on Saturday.
WA Police Acting Superintendent Garry Kosovich said police received an emergency call about 6.30pm on May 13 from the owner of a 11m former cray-boat.
“He had hit a reef 3km west of the Two Rocks Marina, and was sinking,” Supt Kosovich said.
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READ NOW“Following this four flares and an EPIRB were deployed from the boat.
“Polair 62 was dispatched to the area and located the stricken vessel at 7.30pm.
“A short time later, a Two Rocks Volunteer Marine Rescue Group vessel arrived at the location, and rescued the skipper and crew.
“On board were three men aged in their sixties. The three men are reported to be in good health.”
Volunteer Trevor Hutchinson, who was on board the rescue boat with skipper Brian Nalder and crew Ned Shepherd, said it took just over an hour to rescue the men and their boat from Map Reef.
“They had all their safety equipment on board the vessel which made it so much easier for everyone to locate them,” he said.
“We took three people off the vessel which was taking on water, and then commenced to tow the vessel back to Two Rocks Marina, where the vessel was lifted out of the water and the three people were reunited with their families.”
Mr Hutchinson said the volunteer group also helped tow in a boat with a flat battery on Saturday afternoon.
“At the same time another vessel came into the marine who were also taking on water,” he said.
“A passing vessel assisted them (so) they managed to get back into the marina without our assistance.”
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