This afternoon Tasmania Police Search and Rescue were called to assist with two marine incidents and notified of a third whereby members of the public were reported in distress and needed help. With the assistance of the Surf Life Saving Club of Tasmania and Tamar Sea Rescue, all incidents were successfully prosecuted.

At 1.30 pm today police received a report that a yacht had capsized off the Tasmanian coast near Bridport and was being blown in an easterly direction.  Around the same time, police received a second call that four kayakers were stranded on the South Esk River in flood waters near Longford and needed rescuing.

With the assistance of a crew from the Bridport SLSC and another local vessel the yachtsman at Bridport was rescued and taken to shore around 2.10 pm with minor damage reported to the yacht’s mast.  The man from Bridport was an experienced sailor and required no further assistance reporting that he was in no immediate danger.

The second incident required the assistance of a Launceston-based SLSC crew and police. During this rescue a SLSC vessel was launched at Mill Dam Road near Longford to search for the four kayakers. All four were located a short time later about 1km downstream from Mill Dam Reserve.  All were returned to shore along with their kayaks safe and well.

Police also received a third call at 3.15pm that a third vessel was in distress on the Tamar River suffering a mechanical failure and was adrift.  That vessel was successfully towed to safety by member of Tamar Sea Rescue at 3.45pm.

Although there is no suggestion either of these incidents are as a result poor preparation or lack of safety equipment, these rescues are a timely reminder that with summer approaching and traditionally more marine activities taking place, that members of the public make sure their vessels are mechanically sound and that they carry all necessary safety equipment.