Yacht fire, Moreton Island 18 March

Police have coordinated a search and rescue operation following a yacht fire near Moreton Island this morning.

Water Police Officers were notified just after 7am following reports that the Riviera 45 flybridge, moored 10km off the island’s southern end, was fully alight.

En route to the scene, officers contacted a cargo vessel travelling in the proximity of the fire and instructed a tender be deployed to assist at the scene.

As a result, two of the boat’s passengers were able to be retrieved from the water by the tender.

The passengers, a 62-year-old man and a 57-year-old woman, both from the Sunshine Coast, were transported back to Brisbane’s Water Police base and were assessed by paramedics before being transported to the Mater Hospital.

The yacht could not be saved and sunk following the fire.

If you have information for police, contact Policelink by providing information using the online suspicious activity form 24hrs per day at www.police.qld.gov.au/reporting.

Report crime information anonymously via Crime Stoppers. Call 1800 333 000 or report online at www.crimestoppersqld.com.au.

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