By Blessing Nweke
Three people, including two volunteer marine rescuers, have died after a yacht sank and a rescue vessel capsized in dangerous conditions off the coast of New South Wales (NSW), Australia.
Emergency services were alerted at about 18:15 local time on Monday after reports of a yacht in distress near the break wall at South Ballina, a coastal town near the Queensland border. A six-member volunteer crew from Marine Rescue NSW responded, but their vessel overturned while attempting to cross the notoriously hazardous Ballina Bar.
Authorities confirmed that two rescuers, aged 78 and 62, lost their lives in the incident. Four other crew members managed to reach shore with minor injuries and were later taken to hospital for treatment. A search operation was concluded early Tuesday after all personnel were accounted for.
The body of a third man, believed to be in his mid-50s, was later found on the shoreline. Police said he was not wearing a life jacket and has yet to be formally identified.
Officials described the sea conditions at the time as “treacherous.” Superintendent Joe McNulty of the NSW Police Marine Area Command praised the rescuers’ bravery, noting they had risked their lives to assist a vessel in peril.
The yacht reportedly struck the break wall before breaking apart and sinking. Investigators are working to determine how it came so close to the structure, with divers expected to revisit the site later in the week to gather evidence.
Local residents have expressed shock, describing the tragedy as a heavy blow to the tight-knit Ballina community, where volunteer rescuers are widely respected for their service.
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