EMQ helicopter rescues 3 fishermen from burning vessel - Townsville
06/12/2008
Townsville Emergency Management Queensland rescue helicopter has just completed a successful rescue of three fishermen from a burning vessel about 3 kilometres offshore at the tip of Cape Bowling Green National Park.
The helicopter was tasked following a distress call and an activation of an EPIRB.
The vessel was easy to spot with the smoke plume guiding the helicopter to the scene. Three occupants from the boat were located in a life raft about 400m from the burning fishing boat.
The helicopter was overhead by 3.51pm and within eight minutes all fisherman had been winched on board. They were transported to Townsville hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.
The fishing boat was well-alight and had burned down to the deck by the time the helicopter had left the scene.
NB No vision of this rescue is available
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