Echonet Daily. by Chris Dobney
A merchant vessel has saved the lives of four crew from a 50-foot private yacht who got into trouble 19 kilometres off Evans Head overnight.
The yacht, Red Sky, began taking on water in heavy swells and its bilge pump could not keep up. Around 3am the crew let off a distress beacon, radioed a mayday call and phoned emergency services asking to be rescued.
The Life Saver Rescue Helicopter was tasked to the area with a life raft and a lifeline if necessary. But helicopter crew member Mark Sewell said that by the time the rescuers arrived the boat was already sheltering in the lea of a large oil tanker.
The British Loyalty, which was in the vicinity, managed to come along side the stricken boat.
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