A father and his two teenage sons are home safe and well this morning following their rescue from Trefoil Island.

At about 1920 last night, police were notified that the men were overdue from a trip to retrieve a cray-pot on the Western side of Trefoil Island.

With the assistance of local fisherman and Stanley Marine Radio, a sea search was undertaken, but failed to locate the vessel or the men.

The Westpac Police Rescue Helicopter was then dispatched to conduct an air search.

The family’s vessel had suffered from mechanical difficulties after being hit by a number of large waves, yesterday.

The Westpac Police Rescue Helicopter located the family on the North-West corner of Trefoil Island at about 0015 but wind, weather and a large number of mutton birds prevented the rescue.

The family were well prepared with the appropriate safety equipment and were visible to the rescue crew by flashing torches.

The rescue crew spent the night on the island and the successful extraction was completed at first light under much more favourable conditions.