3 Rescued From Inflatable Catamaran After 'Shark Attacks' in Coral Sea

Three people on board an inflatable catamaran were rescued following “several shark attacks” in the Coral Sea hundreds of miles off the Queensland coast on Wednesday, September 6.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said it responded to a distress signal from the nine-meter inflatable after it had sustained damage to both hulls in the shark attacks.

The vessel carried two Russian men and a French citizen, AMSA said. They were sailing from Vanuatu to Cairns, according to local reports.

AMSA said it called for assistance from the nearby Panama-flagged vehicle carrier Dugong Ace, and tasked the Cairns-based Challenger rescue aircraft to the scene. Dugong Ace successfully conducted the rescue, AMSA said, and collected the three sailors. They were due to arrive in Brisbane on Thursday.

AMSA reminded seafarers of the importance of carrying a registered distress beacon when out on the water, as “it can save your life in an emergency.” Credit: Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) via Storyful

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