Sunday 10 May 2015
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) has coordinated the rescue of a solo sailor this morning after he activated a distress beacon when his yacht sank in the southern Whitsundays.
AMSA Search and Rescue received a satellite detection of a United States registered EPIRB about 1.40am (AEST) on Sunday.
The beacon was activated by a US citizen, whose 10 metre ketch sank while at anchor near Wigton Island, about 46 kilometres north east of Mackay.
He was able to swim to shore after his vessel sank less than 1 km from the island.
A Townsville based helicopter located the yachtsman on Wigton Island, winching him to safety about 5.30am.
The sailor was taken to safety in Mackay, where he received treatment for minor injuries.