One man died and another was rescued on Saturday morning after their boat capsized near the Queensland/New South Wales border.
Emergency services were called to the mouth of the Tweed River, just south of the border, about 6am.
The rescue chopper over Tweed Bar on Saturday morning.Credit: Ocean Dive Charters/Facebook
The men had been seen clinging to their capsized 6½-metre half-cabin runabout.
“A rescue operation was launched involving officers from Tweed/Byron Police District, Tweed Heads Water Police, Marine Rescue, the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew, and Surf Life Savers,” a NSW police spokesperson said.
“A man was retrieved from the water by Marine Rescue members and has been taken to Tweed Heads Hospital to be checked as a precaution.
“A second man was winched from the ocean by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter crew and taken to Duranbah Beach, but was unable to be revived.”
That man was yet to be formally identified.
The men had launched from the Kennedy Drive boat ramp a short time earlier and were heading out across the bar when the boat capsized.
“Initial inquiries indicate neither man was wearing a lifejacket, but investigations continue,” the police spokesperson said.
“A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.”