Flares led rescuers straight to fishermen

25/11/2020

Rescuers quickly found two fishermen stranded in a life raft in Australia after they fired flares.

The fishermen took to the life raft because their fishing boat sank off the Gladstone coast in Queensland. This happened around 20 miles offshore.

Australian Maritime and Safety Authority asked the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter to find the men early one morning in November.

RACQ LifeFlight Rescue Aircrew Officer Chris Jowsey says, “The fishermen had flares and a beacon, which enabled us to fly straight to them, using a signal homer in the aircraft and night vision equipment.”

Bundaberg Volunteer Marine Rescue safely collected the men and other search and rescue teams also assisted in the operation.

The image is courtesy of RACQ.

Learn how flares were used in an Australian catamaran rescue.

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