Puppy among those rescued from sinking boat during ruff day at sea

A puppy and five people have been rescued from a sinking inflatable boat off the Queensland coast.

The group activated a rescue beacon about 6.30am from the Cape Bowling Green area, near Townsville, on Thursday.

A rescue helicopter found five people and a blue heeler pup named Sooky in the seven-metre rigid inflatable as it was sinking.

The puppy, two 45-year-old women, a 28-year-old woman, a 50-year-old man and a 41-year-old man were rescued by the crew about 7.30am. They were taken back to Townsville.

The inflatable was a tender for a 36-metre yacht.

“The yacht did not sink and was not in swimming distance from the sinking [inflatable boat],” police said.

Officers will investigate the incident.

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