Qld: German tourists among rescue cases off Queensland

AAP General News (Australia)
12-20-1999
Qld: German tourists among rescue cases off Queensland

Two German tourists caught in a swollen river in far north Queensland were among six
people rescued today in separate incidents along the state's coastline.

Australia's national search and rescue organisation - AusSAR - says eleven people have
been rescued in the past three days off Queensland after activating distress beacons.

An AusSAR spokesman says the two German tourists are recovering from their ordeal in
Cairns after their four-wheel drive vehicle was swept into the raging Laura River, 40
nautical miles east of Cooktown at Cape York.

AusSAR spokesman BRIAN HILL says a Queensland Rescue helicopter responded to signals
from their distress beacon before winching them to safety 10 minutes later.

Also today, four professional anglers were winched to safety after their eight-metre
vessel sank near Broadhurst Reef off Townsville.

Mr HILL says the four were forced to jump into a liferaft after their Mackay-based
boat - Osprey - started sinking near the reef.

A helicopter from Hamilton Island in the Whitsundays airlifted them to the mainland
after responding to their distress beacon signals.

AAP RTV ap/jfs/as/jn

KEYWORD: RESCUES (BRISBANE)

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