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Three people dead after catamaran overturns off Newcastle coast Three people dead after catamaran overturns off Newcastle coast
(about 5 hours later)
Three people have died and two others are in hospital after a catamaran overturned in rough and “messy” seas off Newcastle. A teenage girl and her father were clutching onto an overturned catamaran while three other passengers including the girl’s grandparents drowned in rough seas off Newcastle. 
Authorities were alerted when an emergency beacon was activated from the boat around 13 nautical miles off Stockton beach about 10.10am on Thursday. Authorities were alerted when an emergency beacon was activated from the capsized boat 13 nautical miles off Stockton Beach about 10.10am on Thursday.
Three bodies were found in the water and have been retrieved by Marine Rescue, New South Wales police said in a statement. They are believed to have been aged in their 60s and 70s. A 16-year-old girl and her 50-year-old dad were winched from the water and taken to John Hunter Hospital to be treated for hyperthermia. 
Two other people – thought to be a 16-year-old girl and a 40-year-old man – were winched from the water. They were taken to John Hunter Hospital to be treated for hyperthermia. The girl’s 78-year-old grandmother and grandfather and a third unidentified body were retrieved from the water by Marine Rescue, NSW police said. 
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It is unclear what the relationship is between those on board. “The two people that they retrieved from the water were actually clutching on to the overturned vessel,” Ambulance NSW inspector Luke Wiseman told reporters in Newcastle.
“The two people that they retrieved from the water were actually clutching on to the overturned vessel,” the Ambulance NSW inspector Luke Wiseman told reporters in Newcastle. The rescue mission was complicated by high seas, strong winds and debris in the water, he said.
The rescue mission was complicated by high seas, strong winds and debris in the water, he said.
Authorities say all five people were wearing life jackets.Authorities say all five people were wearing life jackets.
The 11.7-metre catamaran had left Shoal Bay earlier on Thursday morning and was heading south toward Ettalong beach on the central coast. The 11.7-metre catamaran had left Shoal Bay earlier on Thursday morning and was heading south toward Ettalong Beach on the Central Coast.
Detective acting superintendent Grant Healey said it was unclear how the boat capsized, with police yet to speak to the two survivors.Detective acting superintendent Grant Healey said it was unclear how the boat capsized, with police yet to speak to the two survivors.
“The conditions were difficult,” he told reporters in Sydney. “We had 25 to 30 knot westerly winds with the sea at one to two metres coming the other way. So it was fairly messy out there,” he said. “The conditions were difficult,” he told reporters in Sydney.
Authorities have not yet been able to recover the overturned catamaran, which is drifting out to sea. “We had 25 to 30 knot westerly winds with the sea at one to two metres coming the other way. So it was fairly messy out there.”
“As soon as there is favourable sea conditions there will be an attempt to salvage the vessel,” Healey said. “But whilst the weather is like it is, all we can do is let the boating community know where it is.” Authorities have not yet been able to recover the overturned catamaran, which is drifting out to sea. 
A strong wind warning is in place along the NSW coast, from the Hunter down to Eden. Roads and Maritime Services has urged fishers and boaties to be extra cautious, with choppy conditions expected on exposed bays as well as dangerously rough conditions offshore. “As soon as there is favourable sea conditions there will be an attempt to salvage the vessel,” Healy said.
“But while the weather is like it is, all we can do is let the boating community know where it is.”
A strong wind warning is in place along the NSW coast, from the Hunter down to Eden.
Roads and Maritime Services are urging fishers and boaties to be extra cautious, with choppy conditions expected on exposed bays as well as dangerously rough conditions offshore.
Newcastle and the HunterNewcastle and the Hunter
New South WalesNew South Wales
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