News Brief

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter recovered a vessel in distress off Sydney Heads early on Saturday, December 17.
The 58-foot commercial fishing vessel was found sinking without engine power about 25 km off Sydney Heads. The vessel had already begun to fill with water when the Westpac Life Saver crew arrived to rescue the fishermen on board.
The Surf Life Saving Operations Centre and the NSW Police alerted the Westpac Life Saver shortly before 4.50am to aid the small tinny, Kimbarra, but the helicopter was diverted before it left for an emergency search.
The CEO of Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters, Stephen Leahy said: ”All crew on board the Kimbarra are safe and well.” The company ensured the fishermen escaped the incident unharmed.
According to Mr Leahy, the men on the boat did not perceive the situation as an emergency when the helicopter arrived and at first, refused to leave.
“The Westpac Life Saver crew dropped a six-man life-raft directly next to the boat, however the fishermen decided they would stay on board as the boat was not in any immediate danger of sinking,” he said.
The Water Police arrived on the scene at 6 am and enabled the men to evacuate the fishing boat, before towing it back to Sydney Harbour.