Five months after a boat capsized crossing the Yamba coastal bar, killing two people, police have charged the vessel’s alleged skipper in relation to the incident.
The tragedy unfolded shortly after 6am on March 12 when the recreational boat carrying three people overturned while attempting to cross the bar at the mouth of the Clarence River.
A major rescue operation involving police, Marine Rescue NSW, Surf Life Saving NSW and the Westpac Rescue Helicopter followed.
A 52-year-old man was found on a life raft and rescued by a passing vessel. He was taken to Maclean District Hospital.
The other two occupants were recovered from the water but could not be revived.
At the time the deaths were the seventh and eighth coastal drownings in NSW in less than a fortnight.
Detectives from the NSW Police Marine Area Command subsequently launched an investigation into the capsize.
Police announced yesterday (Thursday August 13) that, following what they described as ‘extensive inquiries’, the surviving 52-year-old man had been issued with a Court Attendance Notice.
He has been charged with two counts of operating a recreational vessel negligently causing death or grievous bodily harm.
The man is due to appear before Maclean Local Court on October 15.
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