At around 1.30 pm AEDT this afternoon, RCC Australia detected a registered 406MHz distress beacon off the coast near Perth.
Due to the beacon being registered, RCC Australia’s search and rescue officers were able to reach an emergency contact who advised the officers where the beacon owner had been headed today.
RCC Australia then tasked a rescue helicopter to respond. The helicopter homed the beacon to a location about five nautical miles north-west of the Hillarys Boat Harbour in Perth. The helicopter located two men clinging to the upturned hull of a vessel.
RCC Australia tasked a Department of Fisheries Western Australia vessel in the area to head to the location as well as two local Volunteer Marine Rescue (VMR) vessels.
The Department of Fisheries vessel reached the men first and brought them to safety. The men were rescued around 2.40 pm AEDT.
The two men have now been transferred to a VMR vessel and will be taken back to shore for medical assessment as a precaution.
AMSA encourages distress beacon owners to make sure their beacon is registered. Beacon registration is free and can be done online at www.beacons.amsa.gov.au or by phoning AMSA on 1800 406 406. Having a registered beacon means AMSA can contact you or a nominated emergency contact if your distress beacon is activated. This helps AMSA get help to you as soon as possible.
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