Three dead, four rescued in NSW boating tragedy
Three people died in a rescue mission that turned deadly in northern NSW. Photo: Marine Rescue Ballina Facebook
Three people have died and four managed to scramble to shore when a yacht rescue went horribly wrong off Ballina, on the NSW north coast, on Monday night.
Emergency services responded to a report of a yacht in difficulty off the south Ballina break wall about 6.15pm.
A crew from Marine Rescue NSW was despatched; however, that vessel rolled while crossing the Ballina Bar in rough conditions.
In breaking news on Tuesday morning (AEST), it was confirmed that two of the deceased were marine rescue volunteers.
Earlier, three people had been confirmed dead while four others made it to shore.
NSW Police said it was yet unknown how many people were on the yacht.
“It’s believed the yacht has now sunk,” they said.
The four people who reached land were checked by NSW Ambulance paramedics. None had life-threatening injuries.
The Ballina Bar is notoriously hazardous to cross in rough conditions.
NSW Police said a passerby alerted authorities to the struggling yacht.
Tweed Heads Water Police and general duties officers from Richmond Police District were on scene for the rescue operation.
The search and rescue effort was coordinated by Marine Area Command from its Balmain headquarters.
Additional assistance will be provided by the AMSA Challenger jet and Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Lismore.
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