On Sunday 18^th December 2016 at 12.45pm police were called to attend a report sinking vessel in the waters off Burnie.
Police were called from a mobile phone by the skipper of the vessel who stated his fibreglass runabout boat had capsized and four people were clinging to the upturned vessel in the water.

At 1.30pm the vessel was located approximately 5 kilometres from the Burnie boat ramp.

The four men were safely transported to Burnie where they were treated for hypothermia at the boat ramp and one man was transported to the North West Regional Hospital for further treatment.

The search was assisted by personnel from the Burnie Surf Life Saving Club and the Burnie Yacht Club.