Three people have been safely rescued from an overturned boat following a sea rescue on the state's south coast.
About 4.45pm (Saturday 21 December 2024), emergency services received calls that a vessel had overturned in waters near Bawley Point, south of Ulladulla, with three people sighted clinging to the upturned hull.
Officers from South Coast Police District, Water Police and members of the Volunteer Rescue Association, Surf Life Saving and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter attended and found three people, all wearing life jackets, clinging to the boat.
All three were winched to safety.
Arrangements are underway to salvage the vessel.
Chief Inspector David Cockram, from the South Coast Police District, praised the efforts of rescuers in what was a challenging multi-agency rescue.
"Had the three people on board the vessel not been wearing life jackets, we could easily have seen a different outcome and a tragedy unfold," Ch Insp Cockram said.
"It serves as a timely reminder that people should take all safety precautions when launching into the water, to observe the prevailing conditions and ensure all people on board are wearing life jackets."
Water Police have commenced an investigation into the circumstances of the incident.
