Men missing at sea for five days rescued, 'in relatively good spirits'
Two South Australian men missing at sea for five days have been rescued more than 100 kilometres from their intended destination, hours after the police search for their vessel was called off.
Tony Higgins, 57, and Derek Robinson, 48, were "in relatively good spirits and in good health" when Mr Higgins made contact with police on Wednesday night, a South Australia Police spokesperson said.
A police rescue operation occurred on Thursday morning after Mr Higgins told police they were located at Salt Creek, roughly 100 kilometres from their intended destination.
Helicopter footage showed the boat being towed to shore about 8am.
One of the men can be seen giving a thumbs up in the footage.
Mr Robinson and Mr Higgins left Coffin Bay on the Eyre Peninsula in a 30-foot older wooden-hulled fishing boat bound for Goolwa about 3pm last Thursday, South Australia Police said.
The wooden shipping boat is towed to shore about 8am on Thursday.Credit:Nine News
They reported engine trouble to a friend about 11pm on Friday, telling them they were going to divert to nearby Kangaroo Island.
The men did not make any more contact and a large rescue operation was launched on Sunday.
South Australia Police, the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, the Royal Australian Air Force and Kangaroo Island and Volunteer Marine Rescue searched more than 103,000 square kilometres before the operation was suspended on Wednesday night.
However, just hours after the operation was suspended, Mr Higgins made a call to Victor Harbor police station, notifying them that they were located outside the search area at Salt Creek, along the Coorong.
Derek Robinson and Tony Higgins have been at sea since last Thursday.Credit:South Australia Police
"Our water operations unit are working now and a search and rescue aircraft is on the way from Canberra," a South Australia Police spokesperson said earlier on Thursday morning, adding that the men were "in relatively good spirits and in good health".
More to come