Coral Sea near Bundaberg: Sailor winched to safety after ship sinks VIDEO
Posted on 02-Jun-2012
The AGL Action Rescue Helicopter has winched a man to safety after his sailing vessel sunk off the coast of Bundaberg early this morning (Saturday).
The 55 year old set off his emergency beacon and abandoned ship as his 13 metre timber sailing boat took on water.
The Rescue Co-ordination Centre alerted the AGL Action Rescue Helicopter which tracked the vessel's beacon and once in the area took less than 10 minutes to locate the man adrift in a small tender.
Captain of the vessel Fabian Stelco had the highest praise for his rescuers:
"It was wonderful to see these guys fly up and stop and come and get me.
"To watch them put someone in the water and to swim over to the ducky and lift me up.
"I thought I was going to be there for weeks and it was less than a couple of hours, it was amazing, they were amazing", he said.
The tender's location was marked with a smoke flare before AGL Action Rescue Helicopter crewman Richard Mitchell was lowered down to secure Mr Stelco and winch him safely on board the helicopter.
He hadn't sustained any injuries and was airlifted to Bundaberg airport.
Release Date: 1300 Saturday 2 June 2012
Fabian Stelco back at the Bundy base with the AGL Rescue Crew who plucked him from his tender on the Coral Sea
