QLD: Family rescueed from stricken yacht near Fraser Island

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-1998
QLD: Family rescueed from stricken yacht near Fraser Island

BRISBANE, Dec 22 AAP - A young family was rescued from a stricken yacht in high seas off
Tin Can Bay, about 250km north of Brisbane, in the early hours of this morning.

Sergeant Tony Gilligan of Gympie Police said the family, including two children aged five
and seven, was plucked to safety about 3am after getting into trouble just before midnight.

He said the family was aboard the 7m yacht, Ida, when the weather turned rough.

The parents dropped anchor but the 5m runabout they were towing flipped over and sank.

Sgt Gilligan said the parents panicked when the yacht began taking on water and 25 knot
winds started pushing it towards a sandbar.

"The seas were monstrous," said Sgt Gilligan.

"They were very lucky to be rescued."

Two nearby fishing trawlers and two Coastguard vessels went to the family's rescue.

"They (the family) were just about gone when they (the rescuers) managed to hook into them
and drag them to safety," Sgt Gilligan said.

Sgt Gilligan said the family was believed to be from Tin Can Bay.

AAP bja/it

KEYWORD: YACHT

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