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8 May 2026
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Three dead including two rescue volunteers after Ballina boating accident on NSW coast
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Three people have died after a boating accident at Ballina on the northern NSW coast. Two of those who died were volunteers from the local Marine Rescue Unit, 62-year-old Frank Petsch and 78-year-old Bill Ewen. Emergency services were contacted about 18:15 on Tuesday, 5 May 2026, after a member of the public reported a yacht having difficulties off the South Ballina breakwall. Marine Rescue NSW responded, but its vessel rolled as it crossed the Ballina Bar in rough conditions. Superintendent Joe McNulty of the NSW Police Marine Area Command paid tribute to the volunteers from the Ballina Marine Rescue Unit, describing conditions on the bar as "treacherous" with a 2.5-metre easterly swell.
"It was a very challenging rescue … six people went to save the life of another yachtsman at sea and unfortunately their actions, punching through those bar conditions, the vessel capsized," he said. "Some of the Marine Rescue crew were trapped in the hull, some were ejected from the vessel, and unfortunately two lives have been lost.
"We need to remember and reflect on the heroic actions of this crew overnight. These people do a fantastic job, volunteers in the community and putting their life at risk to go and save another vessel that was stricken and in danger."
The body of the 78-year-old rescuer was recovered by the region's rescue helicopter and the body of the second volunteer, aged 62, was found washed ashore. The body of a third man, believed to be aged in his 50s, has now also been found on the sand. Another man was winched to safety by the rescue helicopter and was treated for chest injuries. Three other people made it to shore without assistance and were taken to the Lismore Base Hospital for observation.
"That Marine Rescue boat had six crew members on it last night, and thankfully those other members are well with minor injuries in hospital and being kept there for precautionary reasons," Superintendent McNulty said.
Superintendent McNulty said there had not been a distress call sent from the stricken yacht, and that the alarm was raised by a "good Samaritan" who saw the vessel in distress near the southern breakwall. "It did hit the breakwall, it did break up, and as a result of that incident we have recovered one deceased person from that vessel," he said. "That male is in his mid-50s … and he is yet to be formally identified. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time of his recovery, so that will form part of our investigation."
'Darkest night in Marine Rescue history'
NSW Marine Rescue Commissioner Todd Andrews said it was a tragic night for the organisation. "Last night was the darkest night in Marine Rescue history," he said. "Members from Marine Rescue Ballina launched with a single mission: to save lives on the water and assist a disabled yacht in distress. Tragically, two of our volunteers lost their lives during the response."
Commissioner Andrews said a risk assessment would have been done before the rescue mission was launched. "All crew members were experienced and had the necessary qualifications," he said. "Obviously [conditions] can be very dangerous and conditions out at sea can change rapidly, and what may look like a calm situation can turn quickly. But like I say, risk assessments are always done beforehand."
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has paid tribute to the volunteers, saying they put their own lives at risk to help others. "I think it's important that we remember everybody's family and friends at this time," she said. ‘This will be a shocking experience for all of those, but also for a community like Ballina. It is a close-knit community, and they will really be feeling this today."
It is unknown how many people were on the yacht, which police now believe has sunk.
There is a history of boating drama on and around the Richmond River bar during heavy seas. The latest coastal water forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology shows a 2–3 metre easterly swell in the area.
Superintendent McNulty said conditions remained hazardous. "The seas are still up, it is an active search area, there is a lot of debris that has broken up overnight that we located on beaches north and south of Ballina," he said. "The seas are too rough to salvage the vessel today, so we're looking at when the seas will abate to allow police divers to enter the water and attempt some type of salvage operation."
Emergency service crews resumed a search of the area this morning, but NSW Police said inquiries had revealed no other people were onboard the yacht at the time and the search has now been suspended.
Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the situation was "heartbreaking". "It's our priority to support those affected and for recognising the bravery of our volunteers," she said. "They show this courage and commitment, they face the challenging and dangerous conditions as responders, and all they were doing was acting with their normal professionalism and bravery to save lives. These volunteers, they're an essential part of our community and we're deeply, deeply grateful for their service."
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the community would be devastated by the tragic news. "Six volunteers boarded a boat in an attempt to save the lives of the people on that yacht," he said. "I want to pay tribute to their heroism, their sense of courage, their public-mindedness and let them know that the people of NSW are in their corner today and thank them for their service to this state. I know the Marine Rescue fraternity who actually know each other from up and down the coast … will be devastated by the loss of lives."
Sources: ABC News, Marine Rescue Ballina, NSW Marine Rescue, Sanas Madeira
"It was a very challenging rescue … six people went to save the life of another yachtsman at sea and unfortunately their actions, punching through those bar conditions, the vessel capsized," he said. "Some of the Marine Rescue crew were trapped in the hull, some were ejected from the vessel, and unfortunately two lives have been lost.
"We need to remember and reflect on the heroic actions of this crew overnight. These people do a fantastic job, volunteers in the community and putting their life at risk to go and save another vessel that was stricken and in danger."
The body of the 78-year-old rescuer was recovered by the region's rescue helicopter and the body of the second volunteer, aged 62, was found washed ashore. The body of a third man, believed to be aged in his 50s, has now also been found on the sand. Another man was winched to safety by the rescue helicopter and was treated for chest injuries. Three other people made it to shore without assistance and were taken to the Lismore Base Hospital for observation.
"That Marine Rescue boat had six crew members on it last night, and thankfully those other members are well with minor injuries in hospital and being kept there for precautionary reasons," Superintendent McNulty said.
Superintendent McNulty said there had not been a distress call sent from the stricken yacht, and that the alarm was raised by a "good Samaritan" who saw the vessel in distress near the southern breakwall. "It did hit the breakwall, it did break up, and as a result of that incident we have recovered one deceased person from that vessel," he said. "That male is in his mid-50s … and he is yet to be formally identified. He was not wearing a life jacket at the time of his recovery, so that will form part of our investigation."
'Darkest night in Marine Rescue history'
NSW Marine Rescue Commissioner Todd Andrews said it was a tragic night for the organisation. "Last night was the darkest night in Marine Rescue history," he said. "Members from Marine Rescue Ballina launched with a single mission: to save lives on the water and assist a disabled yacht in distress. Tragically, two of our volunteers lost their lives during the response."
Commissioner Andrews said a risk assessment would have been done before the rescue mission was launched. "All crew members were experienced and had the necessary qualifications," he said. "Obviously [conditions] can be very dangerous and conditions out at sea can change rapidly, and what may look like a calm situation can turn quickly. But like I say, risk assessments are always done beforehand."
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has paid tribute to the volunteers, saying they put their own lives at risk to help others. "I think it's important that we remember everybody's family and friends at this time," she said. ‘This will be a shocking experience for all of those, but also for a community like Ballina. It is a close-knit community, and they will really be feeling this today."
It is unknown how many people were on the yacht, which police now believe has sunk.
There is a history of boating drama on and around the Richmond River bar during heavy seas. The latest coastal water forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology shows a 2–3 metre easterly swell in the area.
Superintendent McNulty said conditions remained hazardous. "The seas are still up, it is an active search area, there is a lot of debris that has broken up overnight that we located on beaches north and south of Ballina," he said. "The seas are too rough to salvage the vessel today, so we're looking at when the seas will abate to allow police divers to enter the water and attempt some type of salvage operation."
Emergency service crews resumed a search of the area this morning, but NSW Police said inquiries had revealed no other people were onboard the yacht at the time and the search has now been suspended.
Ballina Mayor Sharon Cadwallader said the situation was "heartbreaking". "It's our priority to support those affected and for recognising the bravery of our volunteers," she said. "They show this courage and commitment, they face the challenging and dangerous conditions as responders, and all they were doing was acting with their normal professionalism and bravery to save lives. These volunteers, they're an essential part of our community and we're deeply, deeply grateful for their service."
NSW Premier Chris Minns said the community would be devastated by the tragic news. "Six volunteers boarded a boat in an attempt to save the lives of the people on that yacht," he said. "I want to pay tribute to their heroism, their sense of courage, their public-mindedness and let them know that the people of NSW are in their corner today and thank them for their service to this state. I know the Marine Rescue fraternity who actually know each other from up and down the coast … will be devastated by the loss of lives."
Sources: ABC News, Marine Rescue Ballina, NSW Marine Rescue, Sanas Madeira
