Three sailors hit a tug rope and their yacht began to sink.
“From there it was just panic stations, and we had manual pumps going, bilge pumps going.
They abandoned ship and set off their 406 EPIRB, and the closest ship to respond in the New Caledonia waters was a cruise ship.
The rescue was coordinated by Noumea (New Caledonia) to respond to the Australian EPIRB.
Read more and see video here:
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/oceania/it-was-panic-stations-cruise-ship-rescues-australians-from-life-raft-off-new-caledonia-20190926-p52vco.html
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-26/p&o-cruise-ship-rescues-three-men-near-new-caledonia/11551902
https://karryon.com.au/industry-news/rescue-mission-pacific-dawn-saves-three-abandoned-seafarers/