An emergency beacon is being credited with saving the lives of four men whose boat sank off Mount Eliza.
The group was about 1km offshore when the vessel began taking on water on Friday 30 December about 8.45pm.
They activated an emergency position indicating radio beacon which raised the alarm.
The Water Police Squad – overseeing the emergency response through its rescue co-ordination centre – notified the Volunteer Marine Rescue’s Mornington unit which raced to the scene.
Victoria Police’s Air Wing was also dispatched, monitoring the incident from overhead.
The four men – three aged 27 and one aged 26 – clung to a lifejacket before Volunteer Marine Rescue members pulled them to safety.
They also used an esky to help stay afloat, saying they had other lifejackets on board but didn’t have time to retrieve them.
One of the men used his phone torch to help guide the group’s rescuers in the darkness.
The men were bought to shore at Mornington.
Nobody was injured.
The sunken vessel is likely to be retrieved on Thursday.
Victoria Police is reminding all boat operators to make sure their vessel is in working order, check the weather conditions before heading out, carry the required safety equipment and always wear a lifejacket.
The Water Police Squad is out this summer staging proactive patrols across inland and coastal waterways.
It also has special strike teams at key locations targeting anti-social behaviour, water safety and boating offences.
Quotes attributable to Sen-Constable Kristina Clappison, Water Police Squad:
“Incidents like this show just how crucial it is for boaties to carry the right safety equipment.
“There is no doubt the outcome could have been very different if these men didn’t have an emergency beacon.
“They’ve also bought crucial time until help arrived by having a life jacket.
“We’d like to commend the outstanding efforts of the Volunteer Marine Rescue’s Mornington unit.
“Their quick response and professionalism in difficult conditions was exemplary.”
