Australia: A top level investigation has been launched to investigate the breakdown of two New South Wales (NSW) State Emergency Service (SES) boats on a flood mission along the Tweed River.
Three NSW SES boats were carrying ten volunteers on the Tweed River to assess a flood threat on Sunday (May 24) when two boats broke down and drifted into rough seas.
A NSW SES spokesman said that one of the boats experienced a mechanical failure and when the second vessel went to its aid, propeller fouling caused it to lose propulsion. The third vessel would have gone to their assistance but was forced by the rough water conditions to return to shore, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.
The first two vessels drifted out towards the mouth of the Tweed River under rough conditions but finally managed to navigate to shore. Five volunteers were taken to hospital with injuries.