Arabic version: إنقاذ عائلة من يخت عالق على شعاب في ويتساندايز

According to ABC News, four family members, including two children, were winched to safety after their yacht became stranded on Elizabeth Reef in the Whitsundays.

The family had been sailing a 10-metre vessel about 120 kilometres off the Queensland mainland when it struck the reef at about 4am on Saturday. The parents and their nine-year-old and 12-year-old remained aboard the damaged yacht until a rescue helicopter arrived.

A CQ Rescue Helicopters spokesperson said a crew from Mackay reached the location about sunrise. The helicopter hovered over the vessel as a rescue swimmer was lowered to assist the family.

Each person was secured and winched into the helicopter individually before the family was transferred to Whitsunday Airport. The father received treatment on board for head injuries and was then taken to Proserpine Hospital for further medical attention.

CQ Rescue chief executive Tim Healee said the operation on the isolated reef required considerable skill, citing the need for the crew to keep the helicopter in a precise and stable hover during the rescue.