Dramatic rescue after sailor stranded 1000km from WA coast

September 7, 2026

A solo sailor is safe and well after a dramatic rescue from the middle of the Indian Ocean, 1000 kilometres off the Western Australia coast.

The Canadian was making the mammoth trip from Darwin to Christmas Island, about 2800 kilometres away, when wild weather struck.

He was rescued north-east of Broome as his catamaran sank further and further underwater on Sunday morning.

“The Challenger located the vessel in distress using a radar search,” AMSA executive director response Alex Barrel said. 

“Once it located the vessel it was able to conduct two drops of supplies, one of which was a life raft.”

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority was alerted by the man’s brother after the solo sailor twice failed to make scheduled contact.

A Seahawk helicopter winched him aboard the deck of the HMAS Supply, where he was greeted by Navy sailors.

He was uninjured and in good spirits.

“This sailor appeared to do all the right things,” Barrel said. 

“We were reported of his situation when he missed his scheduled reports, he was able to activate an emergency beacon that was dropped to him and we were able to provide assistance.”