An 11-year-old girl is among three people rescued from icy waters off the South Australia coast after their fishing boat overturned.

Bianca McNeill, her father Chris and his friend Bailey were fishing at Wright Island, Encounter Bay yesterday when their boat, “The Gumby” was upturned by fierce waves just before 8pm.

“Chris’s daughter went overboard so I jumped in with her and he went to straighten the boat and a set of swell came through,” Bailey told 9News.

Wright Island boat capsize
An 11-year-old girl is among three people rescued from icy waters off the South Australia coast after their fishing boat overturned. (9News)

Bailey still had his phone in his hand and managed to call for help despite the waves crashing over him.

“I used Siri to call for help, I called my dad and he called sea rescue and everyone we knew and um, yeah pretty quick rescue mission, for what time it was,” he said.

The trio managed to stay afloat, keeping Bianca’s head above water for over an hour before rescue crews found them.

“I was really shocked, scared, and after one hour I couldn’t feel my hands,” Bianca told 9News.

Wright Island boat capsize
The trio managed to stay afloat, keeping Bianca’s head above water for over an hour before rescue crews found them. (9News)

They were treated for hypothermia once they returned to shore and “The Gumby” washed back onto land earlier today.

The two men spent the morning digging the boat out of the sand and say next time they will make sure they are wearing lifejackets.



This content first appear on 9news

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