Rescue mission underway to save solo sailor battling eight-metre waves off Australia’s south coast
- Sailor stuck in wild seas in Great Australian Bight
- Rescue aircraft en route after beacon signal issued
A search and rescue operation is underway for a solo sailor who issued a distress beacon during strong winds and eight-metre waves in the Great Australian Bight.
The beacon located the 6.5-meter Queensland-registered sailing vessel about 630 kilometers west of Kangaroo Island in South Australia and 740 kilometers south-east of Esperance, Western Australia.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), which received the signal at around 4:50 p.m. on Friday, diverted a merchant vessel to the area.
There is a desperate mission to save a solo sailor in raging seas
The AMSA vessel is expected to arrive Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, the Perth-based Challenger rescue aircraft arrived on scene at around 7:45 pm and communicated with the deckhand by radio.
The weather conditions in the area are severe, with wind speeds estimated at 100-110 km/h and waves between eight and nine meters.
A 6.5m sailing ship approximately 630km west of Kangaroo Island in South Australia and 740km south east of Esperance, Western Australia