Two men and a 7-year-old boy were rescued after their boat capsized and partially sank in Western Port Bay last night (Monday 16 January).
Police have been told the trio were returning to Stony Point after an evening of night fishing when their boat struck a sand bank about 11.15pm.
The quick thinking skipper made a distress call on VHF radio, let off a number of red flares, and activated an emergency position-indicating radiobeacon (EPIRB) which was being carried on board.
All three emergency methods helped alert emergency services to the position of the stricken vessel and they were soon located by the Victoria Police Airwing about three nautical miles offshore.
The three fishermen were rescued by Volunteer Marine Rescue after spending over an hour in the water in life jackets, and conveyed back to dry land at Stony Point.
A 43-year-old Boronia man was taken to hospital as a precaution; a 28-year-old Pakenham man and the boy, also from Boronia, were treated at the scene.
Police will investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Source: Victoria Police News – 17 January 2017
