Port Lincoln: Three fishermen are killed in ‘freak’ accident after their boat was hit by a massive wave – as it’s revealed a father and his young son miraculously survived the ordeal by treading water for 12 hours
Three people are dead and two in hospital after their fishing boat capsized off the coast of South Australia.
Emergency services launched a frantic water and air search on Monday evening after the boat and its five occupants failed to return to Port Lincoln.
A police rescue helicopter located the overturned boat near Spilsby Island in Spencer Gulf around 2 a.m. on Tuesday and lifted two members of the group – a 44-year-old man and a 13-year-old boy – to safety from a reef.
Calm seas raised hopes that the boat’s other three occupants were still alive, but they were crushed after rescuers recovered two bodies later in the morning.
The fifth and final member of the crew was found dead shortly after 2 p.m.
The rescued couple were taken to Port Lincoln Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Three fishermen have died while two others have been found safe after their boat was hit by a huge wave on Monday evening (photo, Sea Rescue)
The fifth and final fisherman was found dead around 2 p.m. on Tuesday
They were being treated for conditions related to hypothermia due to exposure to the cold, Chief Inspector Paul Bahr told reporters on Tuesday.
“The boat itself has also been located and is on its way back to Port Lincoln,” Supt Bahr said.
‘That will be released later today and will be subject to further forensic examination and any investigation the coroner may require.’
The fishing party included family members and close friends, and except for the rescued teenager, all were adults.
Police were alerted after the five-man crew failed to return to shore on Monday, resulting in their capsized boat (pictured) being found near Spilsby Island, off Port Lincoln.
The two rescued fishermen told police that their boat was engulfed by a wave around 4pm on Monday, overturning the vessel and throwing everyone on board into the water.
A large-scale rescue operation was launched after relatives of the crew alerted police about the failure to return just after 8.30pm on Monday evening.
In addition to the police helicopter, police water operations, local Sea Rescue vessels, a Challenger jet and P&O cruise ship the Pacific Explorer took part in the search.
Police will now prepare reports for the coroner.