Three men killed after boat capsizes near La Perouse in Botany Bay
Three people have died after the boat they were in capsized in Sydney's Botany Bay this afternoon.
The men - two cousins and a friend aged in their 40s and 50s - were thrown into the water when their boat overturned near the lighthouse at Cruwee Cove, off shore from La Perouse around 12.30pm.
The upturned boat washed up onto the shore at La Perouse this afternoon. 9News
The incident sparked a huge rescue mission. 9News
Crews from Marine Rescue NSW, the NSW Police and Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter pulled the trio from the water, but they all died at the scene.
Authorities also found the life jackets the three people were not wearing at the time of the incident floating in the water near their capsized vessel.
They are yet to be formally identified.
"On arrival, the boat was capsized. They found the first person in a bay, then we saw the second," Clayton Allison, a crewperson on the Westpac Live Saver Rescue Helicopter, told 9News.
Authorities pulled three men from the water, but none of them could be saved. 9News
"Once we got the first two people onboard, we were not aware there was a third - they were both critically ill.
"We made a decision to return to the base. We didn't know about the third until the second helicopter found them."
Paramedics also said they tried to save the people when they landed.
It is not believed anyone else was onboard the vessel, but an investigation into the matter is ongoing. 9News
"(We) started advanced care straight away and getting them here (to the base) - that is the best that could have happened, a NSW Ambulance spokesperson said.
Witnesses say the boat was very close to the rocks when a wave crashed on top of it and caused it to overturn.
The area is popular for fishing and authorities have said that is likely what the men were doing at the time of the capsize.
A rescue helicopter was called in to assist in the operation. 9News
Police remained at the scene on Henry Head Lane for several hour and an investigation into the incident is underway.
It's not believed any other occupants were on board, but the search operation is continuing.
A report will be prepared for the Coroner.
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