Rescuers among three dead after yacht sinks in northern NSW

Three people have died, including two volunteer rescuers, and four others have made it ashore after a Marine Rescue NSW boat rolled while responding to a sinking yacht in waters off NSW’s Northern Rivers region, as a search resumes for others who may have been on-board.

Emergency services were called about 6.15pm on Monday by a member of the public who reported a yacht in difficulty off the South Ballina break wall, NSW Police said.

“A crew from Marine Rescue NSW responded; however, their vessel rolled while crossing the Ballina Bar in heavy conditions,” a police statement said.

“At this time, three people are confirmed deceased, while four made it to shore; it’s unknown how many people were on the yacht. It’s believed the yacht has now sunk.”

Police are at the scene and a search and rescue is being coordinated by Marine Area Command.

Marine Rescue NSW Commissioner Todd Andrews and Deputy Commissioner Dan Duemmer are flying to Ballina and are expected to provide an update from there on Tuesday morning.

“It has been a terrible night for Marine Rescue NSW and our focus right now is supporting the families of those affected, and our volunteers,” a spokesman for the organisation said.

The four injured people were checked by paramedics, but are not believed to have life-threatening injuries.

Marine traffic monitoring websites showed Marine Rescue BA30 in the area – “under way using engine” – last transmitting shortly before 7pm.

Six rescuers were believed to be on the 10-metre search and rescue boat.

The AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority) Challenger jet and Westpac Rescue Helicopter from Lismore are assisting the search.

The search is expected to resume on Tuesday morning.

One local man, in a post on social media, said he had “never seen” so many emergency service vehicles go past his home after living there for 10 years.

A tribute at the scene thanked rescuers “for your dedicated service”.

Nine News reported two of the people who died were part of the rescue crew.

“It effects the community when something like that happens, especially when a rescuer is lost and those people risk their lives to go and help other people in difficulty,” Ballina local Margie Fitzgerald told Nine’s Today program on Tuesday morning.

Marine Rescue NSW has been contacted for comment.

The volunteer rescue organisation completed more than 3100 search and rescue missions between October 1 and Anzac Day, helping more than 7000 people around NSW.

More to come

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