Seven people rescued from WA waters

Seven people have been rescued from the water in two separate incidents off the coast of Western Australia.

Police on patrol in Hillarys, in Perth's north, noticed a flare at 2.30pm on Sunday and soon after received phone calls about the same incident.

The Surf Life Saving WA helicopter was sent to investigate, while the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) confirmed that an emergency beacon had been activated.

Two people were rescued from the water and taken to the Hillarys Boat Ramp by the Whitfords Volunteer Sea Rescue crew.

In a separate incident, five people were saved off Lancelin, north of Perth, after their boat overturned.

A flare was sighted just after 11am on Sunday and a police plane was sent to search the coastline while AMSA also confirmed that a beacon had been activated.

A passing vessel pulled the 18-year-old male skipper from the water, along with his four passengers - two 18-year-old men, a 21-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman.

They had been in the water for about 20 minutes before they were rescued but none of them was injured, police said.