About 3am this morning, AMSA Search and Rescue detected a distress beacon associated with a six metre motorboat near Lady Musgrave Island, east of Gladstone.
The beacon was registered and AMSA Search and Rescue was able to call the emergency contacts listed to determine there were two people on board and further information about the type of vessel to assist search crews.
AMSA Search and Rescue tasked a rescue helicopter from Rockhampton and a commercial fishing vessel in the area to respond.
The rescue helicopter located two people in the water about two nautical miles north of Lady Musgrave Island after their boat sank.
The rescued people were taken to Rockhampton Hospital for medical assessment.
AMSA was also involved in the rescue of three people near North Keppel Island this morning.
About 5.40am this morning, AMSA Search and Rescue detected a registered distress beacon north of North Keppel Island, north east of Yeppoon.
AMSA Search and Rescue contacted local police to task the local Volunteer Marine Rescue to respond.
A nearby vessel rescued three people from the water before emergency services arrived on scene.
AMSA was alerted to both these rescues via a registered distress beacon. Having a registered distress beacon helps AMSA get assistance to people as soon as possible.
You can register your distress beacon for free on AMSA’s website or by phoning 1800 406 406.