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Rescue at Johanna

Police Air Wing crews have winched two people from a stricken boat at Johanna.

Emergency services were notified about 8.30pm on 5 January by the skipper of the boat that he was 750 metres offshore and couldn’t get the engines started.

He was unable to securely anchor the vessel and it was drifting towards land.

The Air Wing were called in as it was believed the boat may roll before watercraft could attend.

The Air Wing crew winched a 52-year-old South Australian man and a 52-year-old Bentleigh East woman from the water and took them to Apollo Bay where they were met by local police.

Fortunately they were not injured.

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.

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