HMAS GERALDTON…to the aid of sinking fishing boat.

The RAN patrol boat HMAS GERALDTON has saved 61 suspected illegal immigrants from a sinking Indonesian fishing boat found in the Indian Ocean.

In a delicate night-time rescue LCDR Bill Martin and his ship's company plucked 34 men, 16 women and 11 children, one 10 months old, from the sinking Type 2 motorised fishing boat.

Among the women was one who was in her eighth month of pregnancy.

The night rescue took place in Australian waters near Ashmore Reef.

A Coastwatch plane had seen the fishing boat and its human cargo and asked the RAN through NORCOM to investigate.

HMAS GERALDTON was dispatched and found the boat taking water.

HMAS IPSWICH helped bring in the 61.

By Graham Davis